Maharashtra Government Withdraws Funding for Eggs in Midday Meals Amid Growing Opposition
Only Three BJP-ruled States Now Provide Eggs to Schoolchildren in Midday Meals
The Maharashtra government has decided to stop funding egg pulao and a sweet dish in its midday meal scheme for schoolchildren, shifting the responsibility of providing egg-based meals to schools through public funding. This move, which follows a growing political debate around the inclusion of eggs in school lunches, marks a significant policy shift just over a year after the state introduced eggs into its midday meals.
Although the decision is being framed as a financial one, it comes in the wake of opposition from right-wing groups, including members of the ruling BJP, who have criticized the egg inclusion. Tushar Bhosale, the head of the Maharashtra BJP’s ‘spiritual cell,’ argued that the decision to include eggs in meals was inconsiderate to families with different dietary norms, including those of Warkaris, Jains, and strict vegetarians.
The withdrawal of eggs from midday meals has sparked backlash from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Aaditya Thackeray, MLA from Shiv Sena (UBT), condemned the decision, calling it a blow to the nutritional support for many students. Thackeray criticized the government for prioritizing political interests over the welfare of schoolchildren, referring to the ruling party’s alleged reliance on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to secure its victory in the 2023 Assembly elections.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government has suggested that school management committees raise funds for egg-based dishes through public contributions if they wish to continue providing them. The government cited "challenges" raised by various stakeholders in the implementation of the scheme.
The issue of eggs in midday meals has been a politically charged one in other states as well. In Madhya Pradesh, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan opposed a proposal by the Congress-led government in 2018 to provide eggs to children in anganwadis, arguing that such measures went against cultural norms and dietary preferences. Chouhan’s objections ultimately led to the abandonment of the proposal when he returned to power in 2020.
The PM-POSHAN scheme, which governs midday meals, has long provided nutritional support to students in government and government-aided schools. Under the scheme, the central government and states share the cost, with the Centre supplying food grains and setting nutritional standards. States are responsible for providing supplementary nutrition, such as eggs, fruits, or other items, from their own budgets.
Currently, 16 states and Union Territories (UTs), including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha, include eggs in their midday meals. Among the BJP-ruled states, only Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Assam provide eggs as part of the scheme, while Goa briefly introduced eggs in 2022 but later withdrew them.
Other states have also faced political debates over egg distribution. In Karnataka, the BJP government introduced eggs in the midday meals in 2021 for malnourished districts, but the move was met with resistance from local communities, particularly the Lingayats. Despite internal opposition, the state government expanded the program statewide. However, with the return of the Congress-led government in May 2023, the provision of eggs has been scaled up, with an increase to six servings per week, up from the previous two.
In Chhattisgarh, the Congress government introduced eggs into midday meals in 2019 but quickly reversed the decision, opting instead to distribute them at home for students whose families accepted them. Separate seating arrangements for vegetarian students were also mandated in the policy.
The controversy surrounding eggs in midday meals highlights the intersection of politics, culture, and nutrition in India’s school feeding programs, with each state navigating the issue in different ways based on its unique political and cultural landscape.