Eggs will no longer be part of mid-day meals served in government and aided schools in Kolkata after a new arrangement with the West Bengal government. According to a report, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will now prepare and supply cooked meals under the scheme.
The change means that students who earlier received eggs once a week will now get a fully vegetarian menu.
ISKCON to provide vegetarian meals in schools
Under the new system, ISKCON’s Annamitra Foundation will be responsible for preparing and distributing meals in schools under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area.
Radharaman Das, spokesperson of ISKCON in Kolkata, said the meals will focus on vegetarian nutrition.
He said, “The meals will not contain eggs but will include paneer, rajma, soybeans, pulses and other vegetarian protein sources.”
Das also said that dietitians have been engaged to design menus so that children receive proper nutrition through plant-based food.
Focus on nutrition without eggs, says ISKCON
According to ISKCON representatives, the goal is to ensure that students receive adequate protein and vitamins even without eggs.
“We have empanelled dietitians to curate our menus. We will ensure that whatever nutrients a child gets from eggs will be matched or exceeded by high-quality vegetarian protein sources,” Das said, as quoted in reports.
The organisation added that it already runs similar meal programmes in several states and cities across India, feeding lakhs of schoolchildren daily.
What changes for students in Kolkata schools
Under the current mid-day meal system in West Bengal, students are usually served eggs once a week, along with rice, dal, and potato curry on other days. Some schools also occasionally include chicken or fish through additional funding.
Students with vegetarian preferences already have alternative options in some schools.
However, the new arrangement will make the entire menu strictly vegetarian across participating schools.
Nutrition debate over removal of eggs
The decision has sparked debate, as eggs are widely considered a rich source of protein and essential nutrients.
The Union government’s animal husbandry department describes eggs as a “wholesome, nutrient-dense food” that supports child growth and health due to their high-quality protein, vitamins, and amino acids.
Critics argue that removing eggs could affect nutritional balance in school meals, especially for children from low-income backgrounds.
Political reaction and criticism
The move has also triggered political reactions. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien criticised the decision, alleging that children are being deprived of nutrition.
He said the change reflects an attempt to “impose vegetarianism” and added that the state “rejects this approach.”
ISKCON’s role in mid-day meal programmes
ISKCON’s Annamitra Foundation has been assigned the responsibility of cooking and supplying meals. The organisation said it is awaiting school lists from the government and will set up kitchens for distribution.
ISKCON-linked programmes, including those under the Akshaya Patra Foundation, already operate mid-day meal services in several states. However, these programmes have earlier faced criticism from food rights activists for excluding eggs, onions, and garlic due to religious dietary practices.
Mid-day meal scheme background
The mid-day meal scheme, officially called the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, was launched in 1995 to improve school attendance and child nutrition.
It aims to provide cooked meals with around 450 calories and sufficient protein per day. Under the National Food Security Act, mid-day meals are a legal entitlement for children up to Class 8.
