Tamil Nadu town panchayats to begin breakfast scheme for cleanliness workers before Pongal

CHENNAI: Following the GCC model, town panchayats across Tamil Nadu are preparing to introduce a breakfast scheme for cleanliness workers, with the programme likely to be launched before Pongal.

Tenders were floated by each town panchayat last week, and the tender process is expected to be completed within this month.

The initiative follows the introduction of a similar scheme by the GCC, which has been providing free breakfast to cleanliness workers for the past month. Other corporations and municipalities in the State have also implemented the scheme.

Town panchayats, which form the final tier of urban local bodies, are now set to roll out the programme. In TN , around 15,000 cleanliness workers are employed across 490 town panchayats, all of whom are expected to benefit from the scheme. Breakfast will be provided seven days a week.

According to a tender issued by the Agaram Town Panchayat in Dindigul, a different menu will be served each day from Monday-Sunday. Items include idli, vadai, rava kichadi, pongal, rava upma and semiya kichadi.

However, employee unions have raised concerns about effective implementation. R Mohan, district president, Rural Department Employees’ Association, said, “Tirunelveli Corporation had implemented the scheme for only one day. How can town panchayats ensure sustainability?”