Tue Aug 26 05:13:11 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article based on that information:
**Summary:**
On August 26, 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hosted his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, at an event celebrating the expansion of Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme to government-aided primary schools in urban areas. Mann, impressed by the program, pledged to consider implementing a similar scheme in Punjab after consulting with his cabinet. The expansion of the scheme in Tamil Nadu will benefit an additional 3.05 lakh students. The program, which provides free breakfast to students, has already shown significant positive impacts, including improved attendance, reduced illness, and better engagement in class. Experts, including Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, highlighted the program’s evidence-based policies that promote nutrition and cognitive development. Stalin emphasized the program as a “social investment” in the future of Tamil Nadu’s children.
**News Article:**
**Punjab CM Considers Breakfast Program After Visit to Tamil Nadu**
**Chennai, August 26, 2025** – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed strong interest in replicating Tamil Nadu’s successful Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in his own state after attending an event in Chennai today marking the program’s expansion. He assured Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that he would consider the program with his cabinet by tomorrow.
Mann was the chief guest at the function celebrating the expansion of the breakfast initiative to government-aided primary schools in urban areas across Tamil Nadu, benefiting an additional 3.05 lakh students. The visit highlighted the success of the scheme, which provides free breakfast to students and has shown impressive results since its launch in 2022.
“I congratulate Mr. Stalin for the expansion of the programme. Though the noon meal programme was a good idea, working women had to wake up at least two hours earlier to prepare breakfast for the school-going children. He appreciated the breakfast programme in ensuring education and nutrition to students,” stated Mann, visibly impressed.
Chief Minister Stalin emphasized that the program is not an expense but a social investment in the children of Tamil Nadu, aiming to improve their health, education, and future prospects.
The expansion of the program to State-aided schools in urban schools, is expected to benefit about 3.05 lakh more students. So far, the programme was implemented in government-run primary schools across the State and State-aided primary schools located only in rural areas.
Director of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation Soumya Swaminathan hailed the policies of the Tamil Nadu government saying they were science-based and evidence-based policies. The breakfast scheme had many advantages for the society nutrition and health of students. The programme has led to cognitive and learning improvements of the students which was also found in many studies, she said. Millets twice a week and introduction of vegetables enriched the nutrition to students under the programme. Ms. Swaminathan further suggested to include moringa leaf powder in the programme.
Data from the Tamil Nadu government indicates that the breakfast scheme has led to a significant increase in school attendance, a decrease in morbidity rates among primary school children, a 63.2% decline in hospital admissions among children in primary classes in government schools and a 70.6% reduction in serious illnesses, between December 2023 and December 2024.
An evaluation by the State Planning Commission also found that the program improved eating behavior, fostered positive habits, increased socialization, showed perceived improvement in the child’s health, increased willingness to go to school, and showed improvement in studies and engagement in class.
The Tamil Nadu government has earmarked ₹600.25 crore for the program for 2025-26, underscoring its commitment to the initiative. The success of the scheme in Tamil Nadu could pave the way for similar programs to be implemented across India.
First Piper 