CM: Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme to Expand to Classes 6-8 on Periyar's Birthday, September 17

Press Release Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme to be extended to students of Classes 6 to 8 on September 17, the birth anniversary of Thanthai Periyar: Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, announcement after review meeting on the activities of the Social Welfare and Women's Rights Department Under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, a review meeting on the schemes and activities of the Social Welfare and Women's Rights Department was held today (15.06.2026) at the Secretariat. At the meeting, detailed presentations were made on the activities of homes, various schemes, social legislation, nutrition centres and children's centres run for the welfare of children, women, transgender persons and senior citizens through the Social Welfare Department, Integrated Child Development Services, and the Department of Child Protection and Special Services functioning under the Social Welfare and Women's Rights Department. Discussions were also held on the schemes to be implemented on behalf of the department, as outlined in the "Vetri Tamizhagam" vision document, and the funding required for them. Further, detailed presentations were made on the functioning of the One Stop Centre for women, adoption centres, helplines operated for women, children and senior citizens, the breakfast and lunch schemes for children, and the functioning of Anganwadi centres. The Hon'ble Chief Minister directed that the schemes implemented by the department must reach the intended beneficiaries — children, women, transgender persons and senior citizens — promptly and without hindrance, that awareness must be created among children to prevent them from falling into drug addiction, and that children who have fallen victim to such habits must be rescued and given proper rehabilitation. Further, in order to extend the "Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme" to students studying in Classes 6 to 8, he directed department officials to take steps to launch the first phase of the scheme on September 17, the birth anniversary of Thanthai Periyar. The review meeting was attended by the Hon'ble Minister for Social Welfare and Women's Rights, Tmt. Ku. Sajeedeswari, Chief Secretary Dr. Mu. Saikumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Thiru. M.A. Siddique, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare and Women's Rights Department, Tmt. Ma. Pallavi Baldev, IAS, Director, Department of Child Protection and Special Services (Full Additional Charge) Tmt. Shilpa Prabhakar Satish, IAS, Director of Social Welfare Tmt. Maheswari Ravikumar, IAS, Additional Secretary, Social Welfare and Women's Rights Department Tmt. C. Valarmathi, IAS, Director, Integrated Child Development Services, and Mission Director Tmt. I.S. Emerci Ramya, IAS, along with senior government officials. Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9