KOLKATA: India’s West Bengal government has announced that eggs will be reintroduced into free school meals from August after widespread criticism over their removal from the menu in some state-run schools.
The decision follows objections from teachers, nutrition experts and parents, who warned that eliminating eggs could deprive children from low-income families of an affordable and important source of protein.
Eggs to return from August
The controversy began last month after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government removed eggs from meals in selected government schools and arranged for a Hindu religious charity to provide vegetarian food instead.
The move reignited a national debate over food choices and religion, with critics accusing the government of promoting vegetarianism through the school meal programme.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed that boiled eggs would once again be included in school meals starting August 1.
According to the new plan, eggs will be supplied separately by local women’s self-help groups, while the charity will continue providing vegetarian meals.
“The state government will supply boiled eggs separately to these schools by engaging self-help groups from August 1,” Adhikari told reporters.
He added that the decision was taken after parents requested the government to restore eggs to students’ meals.
Nutrition concerns prompted policy reversal
Teachers, health experts and child welfare advocates argued that eggs play a vital role in improving children’s nutrition, especially for students from economically disadvantaged families who may not have regular access to protein-rich foods at home.
They also noted that including eggs in school meals has helped improve attendance and learning outcomes in many government schools.
Debate over food and religion
The issue also sparked discussion about the role of food choices in public policy.
While the BJP has often promoted vegetarianism as part of its broader cultural agenda, most Hindus in India consume meat and fish, and eggs remain a common part of many households’ diets despite being classified as non-vegetarian.
World’s largest school meal programme
India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme, the world’s largest free school lunch programme, serves millions of children every day.
The programme has been widely credited with increasing school enrolment, improving attendance, and reducing malnutrition and stunted growth among children across the country.
