Karnataka to include eggs in midday meal to fight malnutrition

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has decided to include eggs in midday meals four seven districts in the state to reduce malnutrition among children, The Logical Indian reported.

The move is supposed to benefit 14.4 lakh children in the state, according to the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

The scheme is to be implemented in Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, Vijayapura and Yadgir districts, said V Anbukumar, the Commissioner of DPI.

Malnutrition among children is persistent in these districts. The officials were instructed to include a list of supplementary nutrition in midday meals, according to The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) list, where malnutrition was rising.

According to a report by The Indian Express, a senior official in DPI is already discussing with the Karnataka Cooperative milk Producers about the feasibility of adding pure vegetarian alternatives in the diet, such as energy balls.

But the official said that they had not yet received approvals. However, the scheme is likely to come into effect soon. The DPI is instructed to visit Tamil Nadu and assess how the project is implemented there.

In the previous cabinet led by Yediyurappa, the minister of Women and Child Development, Shashikala Jolle, was accused of corruption linked to egg distribution to lactating mothers and children.

Tamil Nadu was the first to include eggs in mid-day meals, every fortnight, of students in government schools. In 2013, the scheme was modified by then CM Jayalalitha by including a variety of meals like masala eggs as per the children's choice. The programme proved that it improves children's health and also attracted more children to school.