- By Nidhi Giri
- Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Irrespective of the cost to the state government, no child should go to school hungry, said Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin as he expanded the state government’s flagship breakfast scheme to state-aided primary schools on the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj on July 15. In 2022, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) launched this welfare scheme for children studying in class 1 to 5 in select government schools which has been expanded since to cover more children – as many as 1.85 million students. The recent expansion will benefit another 2,23,384 children studying in more than 3,955 government aided primary schools.
“It’s a productive investment. It reduces the burden on parents, increases attendance and reduces school dropouts,” CM Stalin remarked. The chief minister also instructed officials to carry out surprise checks so that the quality of food does not drop.
While speaking at the event on Monday, CM Stalin also took a jibe at the Central Government over the NEET paper leak row and the National Education Policy.
"The Dravidian Model Government and I personally want to remove all hurdles that are in the way of Tamil Nadu students' education, be it hunger, NEET, or the Union Government’s New Education Policy. Our primary goal is to remove such hurdles," CM Stalin said.
"I was questioned when I opposed NEET. But now even the Supreme Court is asking questions considering the way the NEET exam is being conducted. Students are protesting, and several chief ministers and national leaders don’t want NEET. The whole of India is opposing NEET, following in the footsteps of Tamil Nadu," Stalin added.
