How Karnataka put eggs on the school menu, 6 days a week
Karnataka has successfully integrated eggs into school midday meals six days a week, overcoming initial political and religious resistance. Participation has risen to 65% as the state uses awareness campaigns to highlight the nutritional benefits of eggs for students.
Why it matters
The program serves as a case study for balancing public health nutrition goals with cultural and religious sensitivities in school policy.
Awareness campaigns and pilot programmes have seen more students opt for eggs in their midday meal, with the state govt doubling down on evidence linking it to stronger health and nutrition outcomes West Bengal’s move to exclude eggs from midday meals has revived a familiar debate over nutrition, food choices and religious sensitivities. Karnataka’s experience, however, shows that the issue need not be reduced to a simple eggs-versus vegetarian-food binary.After years of political opposition, objections from religious groups and administrative hurdles, eggs have become a regular part of school meals in Karnataka.
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