Eggs to remain on mid-day meal menu in Kolkata schools: WB CM
The Chief Minister’s announcement puts an end to the debate over the decision to entrust ISKCON with providing mid-day meals, a move criticised as an attempt to impose vegetarianism by the BJP government
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) that eggs will continue to be a part of the mid-day meal menu in Kolkata schools, putting an end to a controversy that had arisen following the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) taking over the responsibility of providing protein-rich meals.
According to Adhikari, from August 1, ISKCON will offer satvik and protein-rich meals to children across large parts of the city, while eggs will be provided through self-help groups (SHGs) to ensure that schoolchildren receive adequate nutrition. The Chief Minister's statement came after opposition parties, including former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had raised concerns over the potential removal of eggs from school meals, emphasizing their importance as a protein source.
Adhikari dismissed accusations that the decision was an attempt by the BJP government to promote vegetarianism in the state. Additionally, the West Bengal government increased the mid-day meal allocation from ₹6.78 to ₹10 per student per day, distributed grants to 80,375 schools under the Samagra Shiksha Mission, and pledged to fill all teacher vacancies, with about 50,000 new teachers to be appointed.
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