A Hindu religious body has been entrusted with the task of feeding children in government and aided schools in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation region. The first significant modification made by the outfit has been to take out non-vegetarian foods from the menu.
Eggs to be out of mid-day meals. They will be replaced with paneer and rajma.
A Hindu religious institution has been given the job of delivering meals to pupils in government and aided schools in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation region, with the first major change being the exclusion of non-vegetarian products from the menu.
Some prefer the clean vegetarian food dished out by Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) on its campus. But now, unlike previously, pupils will not have a choice over what to eat.
Bengal finance minister Swapan Dasgupta said in his budget address on Monday: “The material cost for mid-day meals in primary schools will be enhanced to Rs 10 per student from Rs 6.78. Iskcon will be engaged to provide nutritious cooked mid-day meals in schools under KMC area.
The National project on Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE), popularly known as the mid-day meal scheme, was inaugurated as a centrally funded project on 15 th August, 1995 with dry ration of 100 grams per kid each day. In September 2004 the initiative was modified to give prepared mid-day meal containing 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein to all students studying in Classes I to V in government and aided schools.
There will be no eggs in the mid-day meals. They will be replaced with paneer and rajma.
The first major alteration was the elimination of non-vegetarian products from the menu for the supply of food to the students of government and aided schools in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation region by a Hindu religious body.
WHAT CHANGES FOR STUDENTS
Some enjoy the clean vegetarian diet given by Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) on its premises. But unlike before, the youngsters will not have a choice over what they eat.
Bengal finance minister Swapan Dasgupta said in his budget address on Monday: “The material cost for mid-day meals in primary schools will be enhanced to Rs 10 per student from Rs 6.78. Iskcon will be engaged to provide nutritious cooked mid-day meals in schools under KMC area.
The National initiative on Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) or mid-day meal scheme was introduced on August 15, 1995 as a centrally funded initiative with a dry ration of 100 grams per kid each day. The initiative was amended in September, 2004 to give prepared mid-day meals with 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein to all students studying in Classes I to V in government and aided schools.
But remove eggs from noon lunches to deny youngsters nutrition
Throw eggs at opponents. But removing eggs out of noon meals will rob youngsters of nutrition
Students in Bengal were getting eggs once a week. For the rest of the week, five days of school, they had rice, dal and potato curry. Eggs are a vital source of protein in the fight against childhood malnutrition.
Many schools also fundraised on their own to provide chicken from time to time.
“We used to buy chicken and give it to those who cooked the mid-day meals. They would also cook the chicken. On certain days we would arrange for the pupils to get fish,” said a school head.
Students who did not like eggs or were on vegetarian diets would avoid the item and select alternative meals.
Opposition parties have frequently accused the BJP of putting restrictions on non-vegetarian cuisine.
“We will not have eggs in our food,” said Radharaman Das, vice-president and spokeswoman for Iskcon in Calcutta, “but there will be no loss of nutrition. “We will compensate it by serving paneer, rajma, soybeans along with khichdi.”
While instructors praised the move to hike the cost for mid-day meals, some worried how youngsters would adjust to a 100% vegetarian menu.
“The students come in droves on days when eggs are provided. We are convinced that Iskcon would take care to offer sanitary cuisine. But students may find it difficult to adapt to a strict vegetarian diet. “It is better to rethink the decision,” stated Raja Dey, headmaster of Mitra Institution (Bhowanipore).
“Many students were not aware of things like paneer or rajma,” said Saugata Basu, a teacher at Uttarpara Government School. “Then it will be about the imposition of food habits,” added Basu.
A BJP teachers’ union leader also said that students’ choice should be taken into account.
“We welcome the decision taken by the state government about mid-day meals,” said Pintu Paruy, co-convenor of BJP teachers’ cell. “We hope the items will be prepared as per students’ preferences.”
The Government has recruited Iskcon, a global Hindu Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual organization founded in New York in 1966 by Calcutta-born A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, for the mid-day meal initiative.
Das of Iskcon said the outfit was contracted as part of a trial initiative.
“The programme will be conducted through our Annamitra Foundation. Once the list of schools is received from the state government, we will set up kitchens and provide 100% vegetarian prepared meals,” he said.
“We have the same exercise in eight states including Maharashtra and Haryana. There are 12 lakh students in such states. “We are excited to offer hygienic food to the primary school children in Bengal,” stated Das.
