Kolkata: Govt schools in Kolkata Municipal Corporation area will continue to serve boiled eggs with midday meals even after Iskcon takes over the programme and starts supplying vegetarian food from Saturday, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said at Nabanna on Wednesday.The handover of the midday meal programme in Kolkata to Iskcon had triggered concerns because the organisation serves only vegetarian meals. With the weekly egg being a key attraction for many students, parents, school authorities and self-help groups (SHGs) had raised objections over the possibility of eggs being dropped from the menu.Adhikari said SHGs involved in cooking midday meals would supply eggs to the schools separately. “We have removed discrimination and disparities in PM-Poshan. We have increased the allocation to Rs 10 at the primary level. Iskcon will provide midday meals from Aug 1. We are arranging to provide eggs separately by self-help groups so children get proper nutrition,” the CM said.The govt has handed over space in Taratala to the Iskcon Annamrita Food Relief Foundation to set up a mega kitchen.Iskcon officials said the kitchen was being readied to prepare wholesome vegetarian meals from Saturday. If required, the organisation will also use its Bagbazar kitchen for the programme.More than 2 lakh children in 1,968 schools in Kolkata are served midday meals. The govt has said the transition will be in phases. Iskcon will initially cover a select group of schools while the current system will continue in the rest.The decision to entrust Iskcon with the midday meal programme has been challenged in the high court, with a second PIL filed on Wednesday. The petitioners flagged concerns over denial of eggs to kids and loss of livelihood of people associated with self-help groups.Adhikari had earlier said the existing cooks-cum-helpers engaged in preparing midday meals would be placed under Iskcon.A spokesperson for an SHG that has been running a community kitchen for 17 years said, “We have not been formally informed by the school education department about our role or if we will have to shut down. There were hints the current arrangement would continue until Iskcon covers every school in Kolkata. But what will we do after that? We have staff, and their future role has to be clarified through a formal order.”
