Cinema VinesOn 22 September, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister V. K. Vijay inaugurated an expansion of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, a government initiative that provides a daily nutritious meal to students in classes VI to VIII in government and government‑aided schools across the state. The launch took place at Chennai Middle School in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, where Vijay served sweet pongal to the children and then sat on the floor to share breakfast with them, a gesture that drew praise on social media.
During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected classrooms and interacted with pupils while they ate, asking them if they liked the food. The breakfast menu on the day included sweet pongal, regular pongal and sambar, while the expanded programme will offer dishes such as upma, kichadi and millet‑based pongal twice a week. The state has earmarked an additional ₹217.63 crore for the scheme this fiscal year, bringing the total budget to ₹724 crore.
The expansion will benefit roughly 1.5 million additional students, covering 15,454 government and state‑aided schools. Implementation will be carried out through integrated kitchens: 447 schools in Greater Chennai Corporation, 2,150 schools in other corporations and municipalities, and 12,857 schools in rural and township areas under the Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation. The meals will be prepared and served by members of self‑help groups within each school.
Vijay, who began his career as a child actor in 1984 and rose to become one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars, has transitioned into politics and now serves as the state’s chief executive. His personal involvement in the breakfast scheme has been highlighted as a symbol of accountability and professional governance, with social media users lauding his outreach and the positive impact on children’s health and attendance.
