Chennai (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced that the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme will be expanded to students of classes 6 to 8 from September 17, the birth anniversary of social activist Periyar.

CM Vijay held a review meeting on the activities of the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department at the Chief Secretariat on Monday.

According to a press release from the Chief Minister's Office, in this meeting, the measures being implemented for the welfare of children, women, transgenders and senior citizens by the Department of Social Welfare, Integrated Child Development Works, Child Welfare and Special Services Department under the Social Welfare and Women's Rights Department were discussed in detail.

The Chief Minister instructed that the programs implemented by the department should be made available to the relevant beneficiaries, children, women, transgenders and senior citizens without any hindrance and quickly, and to make them aware about the safety of children, to avoid drug addiction, and to take necessary measures to rescue and rehabilitate the children who are addicted to drugs, the release said.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Breakfast Scheme was initially brought in to provide breakfast to primary school children from classes 1 to 5 studying in government schools.

Earlier on Saturday, CM Vijay pitched for greater state empowerment, fiscal support and cooperative federalism while addressing the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, held on June 11, saying that a developed India can be achieved only through empowered states and inclusive development.

Addressing the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vijay said Tamil Nadu remains committed to working constructively with the Union Government while safeguarding the interests and aspirations of the state.

The Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu, India's second-largest economy, is aiming to become a 1.5 trillion-dollar economy by 2036, contributing significantly to the vision of a developed India by 2047.

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This report was published from a syndicated wire feed. Apart from the headline, the EdexLive Desk has not edited the copy.