The Puducherry government launched a free breakfast scheme named after former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK President Kalainger M Karunanidhi for government and government-aided school students at Jeevanandham Government Higher Secondary school on Thursday. Launching the scheme, DMK Organisational Secretary and Member of Parliament R S Bharathi said that DMK is a party with gratitude that maintains relations with the party it supports as well as raises its voice to uphold its rights.
These principles have been protected by the former leadership of the party M Karunanidhi. He thanked Puducherry Chief minister and the government for the scheme on behalf of party President M K Stalin, who he said could not be present due to certain commitments. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said that the scheme was an apt tribute to Karunanidhi who championed the cause of downtrodden and poor people and was keenly interested in the development and welfare of people of Puducherry while taking efforts to ensure the rights of states.
Karunanidhi questioned the relevance of governors of states, said Narayanasamy adding that the people of Puducherry could never forget Karnanidhi's support and cooperation to the UT for its rights in Cauvery river water sharing and several other issues. Flaying the BJP government at the center, Narayanasamy said that intervention of the centre in the administration of opposition-ruled States through the governors and Lt Governors was unconstitutional.
Kerala, Puducherry, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Punjab have experienced this secret agenda of the Centre. But the Constitution would never allow the Centre to succeed, he said. Narayanasamy said that Kalaignar M Karunanidhi Breakfast scheme has been introduced with a view to benefit the poor students studying in government schools, particularly in rural areas. He recalled that former Tamilnadu Chief minister K Kamaraj having introduced the midday meal scheme in the state and subsequently implemented well by Karunanidhi.
Even during French rule in Puducherry, non-meals were provided to school students in Puducherry from which he himself benefitted as a student. Around 80,000 students from 419 schools would be benefited by the scheme once the schools reopen in the UT. At present, 10,000 students from 106 schools would be benefitted by the breakfast scheme. Already, funds to implement the scheme has been allocated in the budget, said Narayanasamy. Agriculture Minister holding Education portfolio R Kamalakannan, Welfare Minister M Kandasamy, Lok Sabha mmber V Vaithilingam, DMK conveners in the union territory R Siva, MLA, S P Sivakumar and A M H Nazeem, Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee President A V Subramanian were among those who participated in the function.
