UPA govt earmarked Rs 8000 cr for noon meal scheme: Naryanasamy

PUDUCHERRY: The Centre has earmarked Rs 8,000 crore in the budget to implement the " noon meal scheme" in educational institutions across India in the 2010-11 fiscal, Union minister of state for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy said on Thursday.

He said the mid-day meal scheme was first evolved by former Tamil Nadu chief minister K Kamaraj and now it has been taken as a role model for the entire country.

"The UPA government has allocated Rs 8000 crore for this scheme," he said while addressing a meeting at the PCC office here on the occasion of 108th birth anniversary celebrations of the former chief minister.

Chief Minister V Vaithilingam, his cabinet colleages and PCC leader A V Subramanian were among those who paid floral tributes to the late freedom fighter.