Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the expansion of the state's free meal programme on February 9, 2026. This extension will help one lakh more sanitation workers in urban local bodies (ULBs) get free meals. The programme first began last year in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), benefiting 29,455 workers. Now, it will cover 48,768 workers in 24 Corporations, 29,556 in 145 Municipalities, and 21,910 in 479 town panchayats. The launch event took place at Polivakkam in Tiruvallur district. Mr. Stalin said his government is not only providing free meals but also housing, loan support for entrepreneurship, life insurance, and education assistance for workers' children. "We would provide more welfare initiatives and would stand by the sanitation workers," he shared on social media. The event was attended by Ministers K.N. Nehru, S.M. Nasar, M. Mathiventhan, MP S. Jagathrakshakan, legislators, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and senior officials. Last year, after a protest by conservancy workers at Chennai's Ripon Buildings, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet approved six welfare proposals on August 14, 2025. One of these was to offer free breakfast to sanitation workers, leading to the current meal programme expansion.