Ballari
Students keep away from eating eggs due to the religious importance of Shravana month
In government schools in the district, there was a 20 percent reduction in the free distribution of eggs during sacred month of Shravana, as many students opted for bananas instead. The practice of avoiding non-vegetarian food items such as eggs, fish, and meat during Shravana is increasingly evident in educational institutions.
Kasturi, the District officer of the Midday Meals Scheme, stated, this trend shows growth each year. In aided schools and anganwadi centres, a considerable number of children and women express a preference for vegetarian food over eggs during this month. We adjust the menu according to their preferences. However, in certain areas, parents are opposing the distribution of eggs during the Shravana month. We are not pressuring anyone. Instead, we are providing bananas as a substitute for eggs, she explains. The district comprises 228 government and one aided primary school, 402 government and 41 aided higher primary schools, and 90 government and 34 aided high schools across five taluks. Among these, 1.5 lakh children from classes 1 to 10 receive midday meals.
As per the department’s estimates, 20 percent of children have transitioned from eggs to bananas.
M Ramakrishna Nayak, Deputy Director of Women and Child Development department, stated, there are 1.3 lakh beneficiaries, including pregnant women, new mothers, and children aged 0 to 6, under the jurisdiction of 1,358 anganwadi centres. Here as well, since some stopped consumption of eggs, we are supplying them with nutritious vegetarian options, including green gram. As there is no enforcement of dietary changes, no complaints are reported, he said.
