The opposition DMK on Tuesday accused the ruling TVK government of claiming credit for a welfare program by renaming the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme for schoolchildren after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj.
Raising the matter in the Assembly, former minister EV Velu faulted the government for rebranding an existing initiative instead of launching a new one. He said the action amounted to taking credit for work completed under the previous DMK administration.
Velu stated that the DMK had no objection to honoring Kamaraj, whom it respects, but maintained that the government should have started a fresh program in his name rather than altering an established scheme.
He asked how the change could represent the current government’s own contribution, noting that the prior DMK government had also created the Kamarajar Library and Intellectual Centre in Tiruchirappalli.
Velu added that the original neutral name was chosen to keep the program linked to the office of the Chief Minister rather than any party or individual.
The TVK government renamed the scheme the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme on July 22 to recognize Kamaraj’s role in starting the midday meal program to address child malnutrition and school dropouts.
The original scheme was introduced by DMK president M K Stalin in September 2022 during his term as chief minister.
Velu suggested the government could have honored Kamaraj by creating a new welfare measure instead of renaming an existing one.
