‘Dimocracy’ debate: Mahua says Bengali kids don’t like soya, ISKCON claims it’s better than egg

The debate over removal of eggs in mid-day meal for schools under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) heated up a notch with Trimamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra questioning the BJP government’s decision to replace the eggs with rajma and soya as part of a new pilot project under which the food will be prepared by ISKCON.

Moitra, a Mamata Banerjee loyalist, claimed that children in Bengal "do not like soya" while unlike northern India, rajma is not part of regular diet in the state. Her comments come at a time when Opposition parties in the state have accused the BJP government of trying to impose vegetarian cultural template under the guise of revamping the mid-day meal pilot project.

Moitra questions switch

The outspoken TMC MP argued that while eggs comprise “class A protein” adding that although soya is the only first-class non-animal protein, but it is not favoured by children in the state.

Also Read: Eggless mid-day meals: Bengal BJP government faces first major cultural storm

"Our children don't like soya. When we feed it in schools, they don't like soya. So here you are, substituting egg. So what is the reason? If the reason is not cultural and the reason is not to promote vegetarianism, give me one good reason," Moitra told reporters as quoted by the Hindustan Times.

'Rajma isn't Bengal's staple'

Arguing that unlike egg rajma was never a staple diet in Bengal, Moitra said that the government should instead ask ISKCON to run the MLA canteen in West Bengal Assembly and serve “rajma chawal".

Also Read: Why Bengal’s trend of ‘egg justice’ may not be as harmless as it looks

"Why don't you eat rajma chawal? And what is rajma? Do Bengalis know what rajma is? I didn't know what rajma was till I went to Delhi," Moitra toid ANI.

"Forty per cent of our school-going children go to school because that is the one nutritious hot meal of the day... So this is absolute garbage. I would advise these MLAs and all our 65 traitors who have gone, I want them to go back to their own constituencies and explain to their people how they are with these bunch of jokers," she added.

BJP defends move

The BJP government has rejected allegations insisting that the objective is to improve the quality of meals served in government schools.

Defending the move in the Assembly, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said, "Nobody is imposing anyone's religious beliefs on anyone else. The focus is on providing good food to students."

Also Read: TN mid-day meals: Nutrition is paramount, says Justice Chandru as activists oppose centralised kitch

School Education Minister Dipak Burman echoed the stand, arguing that a vegetarian menu is capable of meeting children's nutritional requirements. "Millions of people across the world live on vegetarian food. Nutrition should be judged by scientific standards, not by whether a meal contains eggs," he said.

ISKCON's response

ISKCON, which will prepare meals under the scheme, also denied suggestions that the revised menu would compromise nutrition.

The organisation’s Kolkata vice-president, Radharamn Das, said it already serves nearly 12 lakh students across multiple states in line with government nutrition norms.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu’s new breakfast scheme pushing up school attendance: Report

"There is a misconception that nutrition depends only on eggs. Children can receive the required protein and nutrients through pulses, soya products, dairy items and vegetables. The focus should be on nutritional outcomes."

"We follow the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition that originated in Bengal. It is incorrect to suggest that vegetarian food is alien to Bengali culture," he added.

Teachers remain sceptical

However, teachers remain unconvinced. A Kolkata school headmaster said attendance typically improves on days eggs are served. "We welcome the increase in spending and any effort to improve food quality. But eggs have a special appeal among students. Whether alternatives generate the same enthusiasm remains to be seen," he told PTI.

The controversy erupted after Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta, while presenting the state's first BJP budget, announced that ISKCON would supply cooked meals in selected KMC schools. Since the organisation serves only vegetarian food, eggs will be replaced with alternatives such as paneer, rajma, soya, pulses and milk-based dishes.