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2026-07-15 09:18:12
[Controversy arises over West Bengal's removal of eggs from school meals, contrasted with Karnataka's use of eggs to boost attendance] (1) In May of this year, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the West Bengal state elections for the first time, the new government entrusted the public school lunch program to a Hindu charity. Because the charity considers eggs to be meat and only provides vegetarian options, since June, eggs in school lunches have been replaced with plant-based foods, sparking political controversy and public attention. (2) India's school lunch program is the world's largest school catering program, and for many impoverished children, it is the most important, or even the only, source of nutrition throughout the day. Public health experts are concerned that removing eggs will affect children's intake of high-quality protein and various nutrients; teacher Raja Dee also pointed out that lunch is an important factor in attracting students to school, and his experience shows that the number of students attending school increases significantly when eggs are provided. Former Chief Minister Banerjee criticized the move as going against local food culture, while the catering agency said that soybeans, lentils, and cheese can replace the nutrition of eggs. (3) In contrast, the southern state of Karnataka has been exploring for many years and is gradually incorporating eggs into the school meal system, expanding the supply range while respecting family choices. Official data shows that after the frequency of egg supply was increased to 6 days a week, the student attendance rate rose from 93.5% to 98.97%, highlighting the positive role of eggs in improving enrollment rates.
