Pongal to replace Upma in CM Breakfast Scheme

In a move that will likely delight lakhs of schoolchildren across Tamil Nadu, the State Government has announced that rice upma, long considered a bland and unpopular dish, will be dropped from the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme (CMBFS) menu and replaced with the more beloved pongal and sambar from the next academic year.

The announcement was made by Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, while replying to the debate on the demand for grants for her department.

Currently, the five-day weekly breakfast menu under the CMBFS includes upma on Mondays and Thursdays, khichadi on Tuesdays and Fridays, and pongal varieties on Wednesdays. Upma and khichadi are served in various combinations including rice, wheat rava, and semiya. But among these, upma — particularly the rice version — has often been criticised for its lack of taste and appeal.

From local eateries to home kitchens, rice upma is often seen as a last-resort meal, appreciated more for its simplicity and speed of preparation than its flavor. Recognizing its unpopularity, the government has now opted for the more flavorful pongal and sambar, a staple of South Indian cuisine widely enjoyed by people of all ages.

Implemented across 34,987 schools in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, launched on September 15, 2022, by CM M.K. Stalin, has played a vital role in improving the nutritional status of children in government schools. A study by the State Planning Commission revealed that between December 2023 and December 2024, hospital admissions among primary schoolchildren dropped by 63.2%, and serious illnesses declined by 70.6%, underlining the scheme’s health impact.

For the financial year 2025-26, the government has allocated Rs 600.25 crore for the implementation of the scheme across all government and aided primary schools in rural areas.

With the removal of rice upma from the menu, the breakfast scheme is expected to become even more popular among students, making their mornings not just healthier but also more enjoyable.