Chennai, June 21 (IANS) Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran on Sunday criticised the TVK-led State government over reports that biscuits were distributed to students instead of nutritious meals under the government’s Breakfast Scheme at a primary school in Thoothukudi district.

In a statement, Nagenthran alleged that the incident reflected the government’s failure to effectively implement a welfare programme designed to address hunger among schoolchildren and improve educational outcomes.

The criticism comes in the wake of reports that around 40 students at a primary school in Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district were reportedly given biscuit packets after the school was unable to provide the regular breakfast served under the scheme.

Questioning the government’s handling of the programme, the BJP leader said the Breakfast Scheme had originally been conceived with the objective of ensuring that children from economically weaker sections attended school without having to study on an empty stomach.

“The government under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has failed to properly implement even this welfare programme, which was introduced with the noble intention of ensuring that poor and underprivileged students can study well without suffering from hunger,” Nagenthran said.

He rejected explanations suggesting that the shortage arose because of an unexpected increase in the number of students availing themselves of the scheme. According to him, such logistical issues should have been anticipated and addressed by the authorities in advance.

“If the number of students has increased, the government should have planned accordingly and ensured that sufficient food was available. Lack of planning cannot be used as an excuse when it concerns the welfare of schoolchildren,” he said.

Nagenthran further urged the State government to conduct an inquiry into the incident and take immediate corrective measures to ensure that similar situations do not recur in schools across Tamil Nadu.

The Breakfast Scheme, one of the State’s flagship welfare initiatives, aims to provide nutritious morning meals to government school students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The programme has been widely promoted as a measure to improve attendance, reduce classroom hunger and support learning outcomes.

The reported incident in Thoothukudi has sparked political criticism, with the BJP accusing the government of administrative lapses and demanding greater accountability in the implementation of welfare schemes intended for schoolchildren.

–IANS

aal/uk