Midday Meals of Children; Recently, the BJP government in Karnataka introduced eggs in the midday meal scheme, meant for school children. This move came despite opposition from religious leaders and sentiment against such a move in other states ruled by the party.
Midday Meals of Children
Just one-third of States in India provide eggs to children under government programmes, an analysis of supplies made to mid-day meal programmes and Aanganwadis reveals. The move comes after multiple attempts to introduce eggs by several governments that had failed in Karnataka. The last big addition to midday meals in the state was in 2013-2014 when hot milk was introduced.
The government, however, has rolled out the scheme partially in seven districts, which according to the National Family Health Survey were reporting high malnutrition and anaemia levels among children.
“From December 1, 2021, to March 30, 2022, 14,44,322 students in government and aided schools in seven districts will be given eggs or bananas for those who don’t consume eggs. Students in classes 1 to 8 will receive 12 eggs/ bananas in a month on school days at a cost of Rs 6 per egg or banana,” a circular from the Primary and Secondary Education Department said.
Karnataka has now joined the other seven to include eggs in the midday meal programme. Available data shows that it is mostly the schools in the southern and eastern regions that serve eggs.
A list of the State Governments which Serve Eggs in Meals are-
- Kerala
- Andhra Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Jharkhand
- West Bengal
- Odisha
Of course, food is linked to issues of identity and privilege. However, acrimonious debates over non-vegetarian foods, such as eggs or beef, are increasingly being used to justify violence against particular populations and perpetuate the myth of India as a vegetarian society. If such bias is allowed to permeate into policy in a country that is struggling to feed its children, it can have terrible implications.
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