Amid egg row, Bengal govt says students will get eggs with ISKCON meals

The West Bengal government said Kolkata schoolchildren will get eggs alongside ISKCON-prepared satvik mid-day meals. The move follows criticism over nutrition and seeks to reassure parents that protein intake will continue.West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. (File photo)Following a controversy over the exclusion of eggs from mid-day meals, the West Bengal government has announced that schoolchildren in Kolkata will be served eggs in addition to the vegetarian meals prepared by ISKCON.The announcement comes after the state government's decision to entrust ISKCON with providing mid-day meals in Kolkata schools triggered criticism from the Opposition, which alleged that children would be deprived of eggs if the BJP came to power in the state.Addressing the issue on Wednesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that eggs would continue to be part of the mid-day meal programme to ensure children receive adequate protein."From August 1, a pilot project will be launched in most schools in Kolkata under which ISKCON will provide pure satvik, protein-rich meals to students. In addition, eggs will be distributed separately through self-help groups so that children receive a protein-rich diet," the chief minister said. Under the new arrangement, ISKCON will supply vegetarian satvik meals, while eggs will be provided separately by self-help groups.The announcement is seen as an attempt to address concerns raised over the nutritional value of the revised meal programme and reassure parents that eggs will remain part of students' diets despite the introduction of ISKCON-prepared meals. - EndsPublished By: Nitish SinghPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 01:49 IST