DMK Critiques Renaming of Breakfast Scheme
The DMK has criticised the TVK government over its decision to rename and relaunch an existing breakfast scheme for schoolchildren. The opposition party said the move does not represent a new welfare programme and is mainly a rebranding of a scheme that was already introduced earlier.
Former state minister EV Velu questioned the government’s decision and said that simply changing the name and presentation of an existing programme should not be treated as a major achievement. He argued that the government should instead focus on introducing new measures to address the problems faced by children and students.
Velu also accused the current government of trying to take credit for work carried out during the previous DMK government. According to him, several welfare programmes were already planned and implemented during the DMK’s time in office between 2019 and 2021.
The DMK leader said that changing the name of an existing scheme does not solve the challenges facing the education sector. He stressed that the government should focus on improving the quality of education, providing better facilities for students and supporting children from weaker sections of society.
The criticism comes as political parties in the state continue to debate government welfare programmes and their implementation. Welfare schemes for schoolchildren are particularly important because they can help improve attendance, nutrition and the overall well-being of students.
The TVK government, meanwhile, has presented the relaunch as part of its efforts to support schoolchildren and strengthen welfare programmes. Supporters of the government argue that updating or expanding an existing scheme can still benefit people, even if the basic idea was introduced earlier.
The dispute over the breakfast scheme reflects a larger political debate about who should receive credit for welfare initiatives. The DMK is using the issue to question the government’s policies and accuse it of focusing more on rebranding than on creating new solutions.
As the debate continues, people will be watching how the government implements the scheme and whether it produces real benefits for students. For families, the most important issue is likely to be whether the programme improves children’s nutrition and helps them attend school regularly.