Food Security

Vallalar opens the Sathya Dharma Salai at Vadalur

At Vadalur, Ramalinga Swamigal opened a free kitchen for the needy of every caste and lit a stove that was never to be put out.

Kamaraj expands free schooling and midday meals

The Kamaraj government opened thousands of schools, extended free education and expanded free midday meals for schoolchildren.

C. Subramaniam becomes Union Food and Agriculture Minister

Under the leadership of C. Subramaniam of Madras, high-yielding seeds were introduced, starting the Green Revolution.

Annadurai's rupee-a-measure rice scheme

The first DMK government tried to supply rice at one rupee a measure, an election promise made during an acute rice shortage.

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation founded

The state set up the Civil Supplies Corporation to procure and distribute food grains and essential commodities.

Nutritious Noon Meal Scheme launched

MGR's government expanded the school midday meal into a universal Nutritious Noon Meal Scheme for children across Tamil Nadu.

Eggs added to the noon meal

Karunanidhi announced an egg once every two weeks with the noon meal, the first step towards eggs on every school day by 2010.

C. Subramaniam awarded the Bharat Ratna

Former Union minister C. Subramaniam, a Congress leader from Tamil Nadu who ushered in the Green Revolution, was awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Annadhanam free meal scheme in temples

Jayalalithaa launched free daily meals for devotees in 63 temples, funded by endowments from donors; it was later expanded to hundreds of temples.

Rice at one rupee a kilogram in ration shops

The Karunanidhi government cut the price of rice in public distribution shops to one rupee a kilogram.

Free rice for ration card holders

In her first public event of the new term, Jayalalithaa launched free rice for eligible ration card holders under the universal PDS.

Amma Unavagam subsidised canteens open

The Chennai Corporation opened low-cost canteens selling idli for one rupee, later expanded across the state.

Amma Salt launched

The Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation began selling low-priced iodised and fortified salt under the 'Amma' brand.

Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme launched

Free breakfast for children in government primary schools began in Madurai and was later extended to all government primary schools.

Thayumanavar doorstep ration delivery

Ration items began to be delivered to the homes of over 21 lakh senior citizens above 70 and persons with disabilities.