Ahmedabad: In response to a public interest litigation (PIL) asking for implementation of National Food Security Act in Gujarat, the state government has submitted to the Supreme Court that there is no need to provide eggs to children, as part of the mid-day meal scheme in the state. The PIL has been filed by NGO Swaraj Abhiyan, which also asked that milk and eggs should be provided for schoolchildren under the mid-day meal scheme.
Gujarat is largely a vegetarian state. The high number of malnourished children is a cause of concern, but stakeholders say people would not accept the state introducing any measure to put eggs on the plates of kids.
Gujarat’s minister for education, Nanu Vanani, told TOI that the state has communicated to the Supreme Court that mid-day meals offered to children in government schools has adequate nutrition.
"There is no need to provide eggs in mid-day meals, as the meals are adequate in nutrition", said Vanani.
Commissioner of the mid-day meal scheme in Gujarat, Sunil Doli, said children are given pulses to supplement protein requirement.
"Only 10 per cent of children belong to families who eat non-veg food. There is no scope of giving eggs, as it would backfire", said Chandu Joshi, former president of the Gujarat State Primary Teacher’s Association.
Health activists, however, say that `one formula fits all’ is not a good policy decision.