Punjab’s Breakfast Initiative: Learning from Tamil Nadu’s Success
Launches Scheme’s Urban Expansion in Chennai, Highlights Punjab’s Pro-People Initiatives
Praises MK Stalin’s Transformative Welfare Measures, Criticizes Misleading National Leadership
Chennai, August 26
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the Punjab government will evaluate the feasibility of adopting Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in the state, during an event to launch the scheme’s expansion to urban areas in Tamil Nadu.
Addressing the gathering, Mann expressed immense pride and personal satisfaction at being part of the occasion. Paying tribute to late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, he described him as a towering leader who championed states’ rights, a legacy now carried forward by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin with unwavering commitment.
Thanking the people of Tamil Nadu and CM Stalin for inviting him as the Chief Guest, Mann called the invitation an honor not only for himself but for all Punjabis. He noted that the expanded scheme will now provide breakfast to students in all government-aided schools in urban Tamil Nadu.
Mann highlighted that the scheme, launched in September 2022 for rural primary schools, has benefited over 1.753 million students across 34,987 schools, yielding remarkable outcomes such as improved attendance, enhanced learning, reduced malnutrition, and lower disease rates among primary students. With its extension to urban areas starting today, he announced that the Punjab Cabinet will consider implementing a similar initiative in Punjab.
Emphasizing the importance of such welfare programs for underprivileged communities, Mann noted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has prioritized education and healthcare, influencing other political parties to follow suit. He lauded Tamil Nadu’s leadership in social and educational reforms, calling the breakfast scheme a historic milestone.
Highlighting Punjab’s progress, Mann shared that government schools are being upgraded into Schools of Eminence to provide world-class education. Punjab topped the Government of India’s National Achievement Survey, surpassing Kerala, with 848 students clearing NEET, 265 qualifying for JEE Mains, and 45 passing JEE Advanced. Special buses for girls have been introduced to ensure access to quality education, and principals and teachers have undergone training at prestigious institutes in Singapore, Finland, and Ahmedabad.
In healthcare, Mann announced the upcoming Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, offering free medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per family, benefiting over 30 million people with no income restrictions. Additionally, 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are operational, serving 70,000 patients daily, with a new WhatsApp chatbot enhancing healthcare access. Another 200 Aam Aadmi Clinics will soon be launched across Punjab.
Mann stated that, like Tamil Nadu, Punjab is working tirelessly to serve its people and build a vibrant “Rangla Punjab.” He highlighted transformative changes across sectors, benefiting the common man, and invited CM Stalin, whom he described as a “true mass leader,” to visit Punjab, the land of saints, gurus, and martyrs. He praised Stalin’s vision and pro-people governance, noting that such dedicated leaders are rare today.
Taking a dig at national leadership, Mann criticized the “master of phraseology” for misleading the public with unfulfilled promises like “acche din” and ₹15 lakh deposits in every account. He warned that such disillusionment undermines democracy.
