Though egg is mandated to be served twice a week under the mid-day meal (MDM) programme for school children, the nutrition component was surprisingly found missing from the noon meal’s menu at some schools of mineral-rich Keonjhar district in Odisha.
Instead, biscuit packets worth Rs 5 each are being distributed to kids, as the price of eggs is said to have exceeded the amount sanctioned under the MDM programme. Teachers have pointed to rising prices as the reason behind the eggs missing from the menu.
A couple of cases came to the fore after a video in this regard went viral on social media platforms.
In a purported video, children of Patala Primary School under the Champua block of the Keonjhar district were seen being served just rice and dal while the cook was distributing biscuit packets.
When asked, one of the students said, "Didi (referring to a lady teacher) said, as funds are exhausted, biscuits have replaced eggs.”
A similar situation was also witnessed at Subudhi Sahi Primary School under Telkoi block where egg supply has resumed after being stopped for some time.
Nirakar Chaini, the headmaster of Subudhi Sahi Primary School, admitted the problem, saying, "Given the rising egg prices, it is actually too difficult to serve it. The DMF fund is not available on time. Besides, the egg suppliers are reluctant to give eggs on credit.”
The Central government provides Rs 5.90 per meal under the MDM programme for each student in primary school while the amount is Rs 8.86 in the case of a student studying in upper primary school.
Raghuram R Aiyar, state nodal officer (PM Nutrition), MDM, said that as per the existing norms, eggs are served to kids twice a week.
Speaking to the media, he said, “As you draw our attention to such a problem, we will instruct the DEO and BEOs concerned to probe why eggs are not being served in those schools.”