Tamil Nadu Sanctions ₹186.94 Crore for Free Meals to Chennai Sanitation Workers

Overview

• Administrative sanction covers one hot meal per eight-hour shift for about 29,400–29,455 conservancy workers, including those engaged by private contractors.
• Meals will be prepared in FSSAI-compliant kitchens and delivered as packed food to roughly 500–512 distribution points across the city.
• The Greater Chennai Corporation will contract catering agencies for three years and appoint a project management consultant to oversee quality and distribution.
• Funding comes from Sixth State Finance Commission grants, with the government order issued on October 14 allowing a 5% cost escalation in years two and three.
• Estimated per-meal costs are ₹57.75 for lunch, ₹47.25 for breakfast, and ₹42 for dinner, and the scheme sits within a wider package offering health measures, ₹10 lakh solatium, insurance, scholarships, housing, and self-employment subsidies.