Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Expands Breakfast Scheme and Secures Walgreens GCC Investment

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced the expansion of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to include students in Classes VI to VIII across government and government-aided schools. The expansion, which will benefit approximately 15.3 lakh additional students in 15,454 schools, is scheduled for a formal launch on September 22 at a school in Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. The state government has allocated an additional ₹217.63 crore for the current financial year to support this initiative. During a review meeting at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister emphasized the necessity of maintaining strict hygiene and continuous monitoring of the kitchens involved in the program.

In a separate development, the Tamil Nadu government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with American pharmacy giant Walgreens India Private Ltd to establish its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India. The facility will be located at the DLF Downtown Taramani complex, situated within the state's newly designated Old Mahabalipuram Road GCC corridor. The project is expected to create over 250 high-value technology and operational jobs in its first year, with plans for further phased expansion. State Industries Minister S. Keerthana noted that the investment underscores Chennai's growing status as a hub for global companies to scale their digital and business operations.

Following his return from an official investment trip to the United Kingdom, Chief Minister Vijay chaired high-level meetings to ensure that recent investment commitments are translated into operational infrastructure. Officials have been directed to establish dedicated monitoring frameworks to track the progress of various Memoranda of Understanding. Alongside the industrial expansion, the Chief Minister reviewed the implementation of several welfare schemes, including the Thaai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Scheme and the ongoing expansion of the school breakfast program. The administration is currently focused on maintaining momentum for these projects, ensuring that both industrial growth and social welfare initiatives meet their established timelines.