West Bengal’s school education department has ordered district administrations to provide additional eggs to students. The directive targets over 8.1 million students from Classes 1 to 8. This aims to boost their nutritional intake. The additional provision will be implemented before March 31, 2026.
Mid-Day Meal Enhancement
Students will receive either one whole egg or a seasonal fruit for 12 days. The government has allocated ₹8 per student daily for this purpose. Funds for the extra food will come from unutilized mid-day meal allocations. This move has sparked political debate ahead of upcoming assembly elections.
Political Reaction
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned the timing of the announcement. BJP leader Rahul Sinha asked why the need for increased nutrition was not addressed earlier. He suggested the timing coincided with election campaigns.
Education Minister Bratya Basu defended the decision. He stated that providing one additional egg or fruit annually is a regular practice. Basu urged against politicizing the mid-day meal program. He called it a routine government initiative for students’ well-being.
Teacher Organizations’ Response
Teachers’ groups welcomed the government’s directive. Kinkar Adhikari, General Secretary of Shikshanuragi Oikya Mancha, called it a positive step. However, he urged for increased overall nutritional allocations. This, he said, would improve meal quality throughout the year.
The mid-day meal scheme covers students in government and government-aided primary and upper primary schools statewide. The program is a key initiative for ensuring consistent nutrition for young learners.