State Education Minsister BC Nagesh said that the decision is taken so as to ensure that “malnutrition doesn’t impede education.”
Karnataka government has approved supply of eggs or bananas/chikki to students in government and aided schools in order to tackle malnutrition in the state. This is mandatory for students of classes 1-8, for a period of 46 days. Earlier the Karnataka government had conducted a pilot initiative to fight malnourishment by introducing eggs in midday meals in Kalyan Karnataka region including Bidar, Kalburgi, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Koppala, Raichur and Yadgiri. The same has now been extended to all districts in the state. The cost will be borne by the central and state governments on a 60-40 basis.
According to State Education Minsister BC Nagesh the decision is taken so as to ensure that “malnutrition doesn’t impede education.”
The initiative is very much part of the PM’s Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (midday meal) scheme. The eggs or bananas/chikkis would cost Rs 6 per student, per day. The purchase and distribution of eggs is the responsibility of the school authorities and quality of the eggs should be ensured as well. Information regarding the same shall be updated on midday meals websites.
