Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday launched a scheme to distribute cakes to school students on the occasion of Children’s Day. He distributed cakes to students at a Chennai Corporation Middle School in Maduma Nagar, Kolathur, in the city.
Mr. Vijay distributed cakes to students of all classes at the school. Ministers Rajmohan, Srinath and Jagadeeswari, along with senior officials, accompanied him.
Some students had arrived at the school dressed as national leaders.
The Chief Minister interacted with them and also fed cakes to a few kindergarten children.
Following the launch, cake distribution began at government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu. Ministers and officials were overseeing the distribution in various districts.
Children’s Day is celebrated every year on November 14. The State government had decided to distribute cakes along with the noon meal to school students this year as part of the celebrations.
For the purpose, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation had floated a short-term tender on October 11 for the procurement of cakes worth ₹9.27 crore.
Four companies were awarded contracts to supply a total of 62,46,412 cake packets, weighing approximately 45 grams each.
Britannia supplied 10,03,996 cakes weighing 45 grams each, while Dream Bake supplied 33,87,459 cakes weighing 45 and 50 grams.
Elite Natural supplied 10,06,861 cakes weighing 45 grams each, and ITC manufactured 8,48,096 cakes weighing 43.2 grams each.
For the first time in Tamil Nadu, the government had organised a State-wide cake distribution programme to mark Children’s Day.
Chief Minister Vijay launched the initiative at around 10 a.m. at the Chennai Corporation Middle School in Kolathur by distributing cakes to students.
The programme was initially expected to be launched by the Chief Minister in the Ambasamudram constituency but was later shifted to Kolathur.
In the Greater Chennai Corporation limits, cakes and greeting cards were distributed to around 2.90 lakh students
