Collector V. Saravanan took the lead on Monday to inaugurate a new free meal scheme aimed at supporting sanitation workers in the Tiruchi district, part of a broader initiative launched across various districts in Tamil Nadu by state ministers and local officials. This vital program is designed to provide nutritious meals to a total of 3,243 sanitation workers within the Corporation limits, as well as an additional 680 workers in nearby municipalities like Manapparai, Thuraiyur, Thuvakudi, Musiri, and Lalgudi. Another 590 workers across 14 town panchayats will also benefit from the scheme.
The initiative specifically targets workers engaged in sanitation services across 65 wards, ensuring that 3,050 workers receive breakfast and 193 get dinner. Among the beneficiaries are 835 permanent employees, 1,790 contract workers, 250 domestic breeding checkers, and 368 truck drivers tasked with maintaining public hygiene and cleanliness. To facilitate this, the scheme includes the distribution of 6,486 insulated tiffin boxes, each designed to keep meals warm, with two boxes allocated per worker.
At the launch event held in S. Kannanur, Collector Saravanan distributed tiffin boxes and safety equipment while Mayor M. Anbazhagan and Corporation Commissioner L. Madhubalan marked the program’s introduction in the city. The meals, including breakfast options like idli, pongal, kichadi, upma, vada, sambar, and chutney, will be served daily between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. The overall budget allocated for this program over the next three years is ₹5.32 crore, translating to approximately ₹35 per meal.
In related news, Karur district will benefit 1,719 sanitation workers from the same meal scheme, with MLA V. Senthilbalaji overseeing the launch at Kamarajapuram. Meanwhile, Pudukottai district is set to provide support for 593 sanitation workers under the initiative; the program was launched by Minister for Natural Resources S. Regupathy, with Collector M. Aruna also in attendance. Notably, Regupathy highlighted that a welfare board established in 2007 has facilitated benefits for over 3,27,232 workers through various government schemes.
Perambalur district will see 467 sanitation workers, both permanent and contract, receive meals through this initiative. Minister for Transport S.S. Sivasankar officiated the launch ceremony in Thuraimangalam, accompanied by Collector N. Mirunalini.
The free meal scheme is not only a crucial step in supporting those who work diligently to keep communities clean but also emphasizes the government’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of sanitation workers across the state. As the program rolls out, it promises to make a significant impact on the lives of those who often go unnoticed in their vital roles in society.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/free-meal-scheme-for-sanitation-workers-launched-across-central-region/article70611084.ece
Category : Tiruchirapalli
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Publish Date: 2026-02-09 18:54:00
