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Kolkata: A Rs 8 egg has become a cultural fault line dividing West Bengal, putting both children’s nutrition and thousands of livelihoods at stake, with the controversy now spilling into the courtroom. 

The newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has announced a hike in the mid-day meal allocation from Rs 6.50 to Rs 10 per student during the state’s budget presentation. The government also partnered with ISKCON to prepare and distribute the meals across Kolkata.

“We want students to get nutrition in childhood, but the information that there is no protein or vitamin in vegetarian food is incorrect. Eggs were not given regularly here anyway, so instead of creating an unnecessary controversy over giving eggs for one day, we can place our faith in this project of ISKCON,” clarified West Bengal education minister Deepak Barman.

For families dependent on government schools, the mid-day meal is often the most dependable nutritious meal a child receives. The programme is therefore not merely an incentive for attendance, but part of the survival system of families with the fewest alternatives.

“I am educating my child in a government school. Here they get good food in the afternoon. All the students here are from our canal-side slum. The government is saying they will demolish our slum after two months,” said Rina Karan, whose son goes to Bose Para Upper Primary in North Kolkata. 

“They eat the mid-day meal food with enthusiasm. If there is an egg, the enthusiasm........

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