Official faces action after ordering schools to fund breakfast scheme utensils themselves

An assistant in the Chief Educational Officer's office in Cuddalore faces disciplinary proceedings after issuing a circular that wrongly instructed school headmasters to purchase utensils for the government breakfast scheme from their own funds.

District Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar has directed CEO Mahalakshmi to initiate departmental action against the assistant responsible for the erroneous directive.

Circular issued ahead of scheme expansion

The controversial circular was sent to District Educational Officers in Cuddalore and Vriddhachalam in advance of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme's expansion during the academic year 2026-27 to students from Classes I to VIII in government and government-aided schools.

The directive instructed schools to install new nameboards for the scheme, photograph them using GPS and upload the details through a Google Form by September 15.

But the circular also stated that headmasters should make arrangements to provide students with plates and tumblers, while rectifying gaps in kitchen, lighting and drinking water facilities through the schools' own funds.

Collector clarifies funding procedure

After the matter came to light, the Collector intervened to correct the misinformation. He clarified that funds for plates, tumblers and other utensils used by children under the breakfast scheme were provided through the respective local bodies.

This procedure will continue to be followed, the Collector said.

Source: The Hindu