ISKCON will provide vegetarian plates in schools and the government will distribute eggs! New formula for mid-day meal implemented in West Bengal ISKCON will provide vegetarian plates in schools, while the government will distribute eggs! West Bengal implements a new mid-day meal formula.

Mamata Banerjee government has prepared a very unique and new formula regarding the mid-day meal provided to children in government schools of West Bengal. The administration has found a middle path to improve the nutritional level of children and the quality of food in primary and upper primary schools of the state. Under the new rule, children in schools will now be served highly nutritious and pure vegetarian food prepared by the international organization ISKCON, while the state government will distribute eggs separately to meet the protein needs of children.

A unique path was found between children’s health and religious beliefs.

In fact, in many districts of West Bengal, questions have been raised from time to time regarding the quality of mid-day meal and the nutrition provided in it. Along with this, the religious and cultural beliefs of different communities have also come in the way regarding food. Finding a solution to this problem, the Education Department has drawn this new blueprint. ISKCON’s kitchen is known throughout the world for its cleanliness and pure Satvik food. Through this, children will get things like pulses, rice, green vegetables and khichdi prepared in a very clean environment, which will also curb the irregularities in the mid-day meal.

How will this new model work from Kolkata to rural areas?

Under this new formula, logistics and distribution have been divided into two separate parts. ISKCON’s food van will deliver hot vegetarian meals in the morning to identified schools in major districts like Hooghly, Howrah, Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas. On the other hand, for children who like to eat eggs in the mid-day meal, the school administration will make separate arrangements for boiled eggs from the budget released by the government. Children who are completely vegetarian or do not eat eggs for religious reasons, the option of giving them additional fruits or milk in its place is also being considered.

What is the opinion of teachers and parents on the new formula of nutrition?

This step of the state government is being discussed all around. While on one hand parents have heaved a sigh of relief regarding the cleanliness and purity of food with the involvement of ISKCON, teachers unions say that managing the separate distribution of vegetarian thali and eggs at the grassroots level will be a big challenge. However, health experts believe that with this hybrid model, children will be able to easily get carbohydrates, vitamins as well as the essential protein provided by eggs, which can prove to be a big gamechanger for West Bengal in the fight against malnutrition.