The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has dropped its plan to outsource the breakfast scheme in 358 schools after facing strong opposition from councillors across party lines. Mayor R Priya issued orders on Thursday night, cancelling the tenders floated for outsourcing the scheme.During a GCC council meeting earlier in the day, councillors from all political partiesāexcept the ruling DMKāvoiced their opposition to the proposal. They raised concerns that outsourcing the scheme could lead to corruption and compromise the quality of food provided to students.
Congress councillor M Samuel Diraviam (Ward 6) questioned the decision, stating that authorities should have consulted peopleās representatives before moving forward. He argued that outsourcing the scheme would create opportunities for mismanagement.
Similarly, Ward 4 councillor R Jayaraman pointed out that a similar proposal was withdrawn earlier due to councillors’ objections and urged the Corporation to revoke the tender immediately.
As concerns mounted, Deputy Mayor M Magesh Kumaar requested the Mayor to seek clarifications from the State government regarding the necessity of outsourcing. In response, Mayor Priya assured councillors that she would take up the matter with the government and request an exemption for Chennai from the outsourcing plan.
Later that night, she formally ordered the cancellation of the tenders, effectively putting an end to the outsourcing move.
Since August 2023, breakfast has been provided under the Chief Ministerās Breakfast Scheme to 65,030 students from classes 1 to 5 in government, corporation, and Adi Dravida schools.