Parents oppose eggs on mid-day meal menu
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 27
With the Punjab government considering introducing milk and eggs as a part of the mid-day meal scheme in primary and upper primary schools, the staff members of these schools, parents don’t seem to be impressed with this very idea to help improve the nutritional status of school-going children. They said students, who are vegetarian and follow different sects, should be given options of food items having protein.
On a random visit to a primary school in Kanhaiya Nagar, children were found sitting in a row having their regular mid-day meal. Upon being asked about the quality of food, it’s good, a boy said smilingly. However, a bunch of students was seemed to be confused when this correspondent tried to elicit their views on the entry of eggs into their mid-day meals. The hesitation was apparent on their faces.
The head of this primary school, Parveen Lata, told The Tribune that since August 17 onwards the mid-day meal is prepared within the premises. Earlier, it used to be transported by an NGO to this primary school. Even she admitted that it is a herculean task to maintain a balance between students’ belief and nutrition.
Another teacher sitting in her office seconded her claims, saying that children belonging to different sects would not embrace this plan. However, she suggested that separate cooking and serving arrangements for vegetarians as an idea could think upon. The authorities should respect the sentiments of those parents who don’t want their children to eat eggs, she added.
The District Education Officer (Elementary), Hardip Singh Taggar, said, “He is yet to hear anything like that from the government”.
“Though, if senior officials in the government would ask for our reviews, we will tell them the reality on the ground,” he said.
Earlier this year in Chhattisgarh, the Congress government’s proposal to serve eggs in mid-day meals at government schools had met with strong opposition.
