Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced on Thursday that his government will implement Tamil Nadu’s successful school breakfast scheme in Telangana from the next academic year. The initiative, originally launched by TN Chief Minister M. K. Stalin for students of Classes 1 to 5, has reportedly increased enrollment rates and reduced school dropouts.Speaking at an event titled “Tamil Nadu Excels in Education”, which highlighted the achievements of TN’s Pudumai Penn and Tamil Pudalvan schemes that provide financial support for schooling and higher education, Revanth Reddy described the breakfast programme as “heartwarming.” He said the initiative ensures that children whose parents leave for work early in the morning do not start their day hungry.
“I am taking inspiration from TN Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, who introduced this pioneering programme to feed school students in the morning,” Revanth Reddy said. He added that the scheme would be implemented across Telangana schools in the next academic year.
Highlighting the broader vision for education, the Chief Minister emphasized that Telangana and Tamil Nadu aim to produce Olympic medallists in 2028. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will not do it. But we will. Telangana and Tamil Nadu will work together to achieve this dream,” he said.
Reddy also praised some of Stalin’s revolutionary schemes and suggested that other Indian states should adopt similar initiatives to improve education outcomes.
In addition to the breakfast scheme, Revanth Reddy, who also holds the education portfolio, outlined several initiatives by his government to enhance student employability. One key project is the Young India Skills University (YISU), launched under a public-private partnership model. He noted that around 1.10 lakh engineering graduates in Telangana graduate every year, many of whom struggle to find jobs. YISU aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin highlighted the impact of Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian Model of Governance in education. He stated that 2.65 lakh students benefited from the Pudumai Penn (1.35 lakh) and Tamil Pudalvan (1.30 lakh) schemes this year. Stalin reiterated his government’s commitment to providing quality education for all and encouraged students to focus on their studies to achieve success.