Why have eggs returned to mid-day meal menu in Kolkata schools? | Explained
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that eggs will be provided in mid-day meals via self-help groups to resolve a controversy over the exclusion of non-vegetarian food. The issue arose after ISKCON was contracted to provide meals, sparking fears of imposed vegetarianism.
Why it matters
The debate reflects broader political tensions in India regarding cultural identity, dietary preferences, and the role of religious organizations in public welfare programs.
The story so far: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday (July 29, 2026) put an end to a controversy over eggs being removed from mid-day meals for schoolchildren in Kolkata. The CM said that along with protein rich cooked meals provided by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), eggs will be provided separately through self-help groups (SHGs).
The West Bengal government has roped in ISKCON to provide mid-day meals in city schools as a pilot project beginning August 1 this year. Since ISKCON is a religious organisation which promotes vegetarianism, it was believed that eggs will be taken off the mid-day meal menu in Kolkata schools.
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