Karunanidhi launches 'egg twice a week in noon meal' scheme

Chennai, Jul 15 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today launched the scheme to supply eggs twice a week for children in noon meal centres, marking the 104th birth anniversary celebrations of former Chief Minister K Kamaraj.

After assuming office as Chief Minister on May 13, Mr Karunanidhi had announced the DMK government would fulfill its election promise of including eggs twice in a week in the noon meal. Accordingly, he launched the scheme.

This marked the fulfillment of another poll promise by DMK after coming to power in May. It had already implemented 'Rice at Rs two per kg' scheme, waived farm loans, reintalled Kannagi statue, reduced charges for outdoor shootings of films and restored marriage assistance scheme to poor brides.

The egg distribution scheme was launched coinciding with the birth anniversary of Kamaraj as the Congress leader was the pioneer in introducing the noon meal centres in the state to encourage rural and poor students to attend schools.

After formally launching the scheme, Mr Karunanidhi distributed eggs to children at a Corporation middle school in his home constituency of Chepauk in the city this afternoon.

Earlier, addressing a function organised by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) at the Kamaraj Arangam, the DMK leader paid glowing tributes, to late Kamaraj saying the Congress leader was a symbol of Tamil culture. He (Mr Karunanidhi) and the DMK always had respect for him, he added.

As promised in the DMK poll manifesto, this day was also declared as the ''day of opening of educational eye'', in recognition of the late leader's immense contribution for the development of education.

Celebrations were organised in schools throughout the state on the occasion.

Leaders, cutting across partylines paid floral tributes by garlanding the statue of Kamaraj at Anna Road, Kamaraj Memorial and 'Kamaraj Arangam'.

Union Ministers P Chidambaram, E V K S Elangovan, G K Vasan, AICC Member in-charge of Tamil Nadu Veerappa Moily, state Ministers Arcot N Veerasamy, M K Stalin, TNCC President M Krishnasamy, PMK President G K Mani and senior Congress leaders were among those who garlanded the statue.

Kamaraj's native place Virudhunagar wore a festive look with partymen distributing sweets, food and clothes to the poor.

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