Overview
- Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the extension at Gandhi Gramam school in Thiruvanmiyur on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
- The expansion will add about 15.30 lakh students across 15,454 government and government‑aided schools in the state.
- The government has provided an extra Rs 217.63 crore for the current financial year, taking the programme’s total allocation to Rs 724 crore.
- Meals will be cooked in integrated central kitchens for urban schools and prepared by self‑help groups in rural schools, with 447 schools in Greater Chennai, 2,150 in other urban bodies and 12,857 in rural areas assigned to these models.
- Rollout is paused in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur because the Model Code of Conduct applies for upcoming by‑elections, and officials have ordered hygiene checks, hot serving and a special committee to finalise the weekly menu to improve nutrition, attendance and classroom focus.