Wet Bengal to serve eggs separately as ISKCON cooks mid-day meals

Kolkata: Eggs will be served separately in West Bengal’s state-run schools, where ISKCON has been delegated to serve mid-day meals, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the state will adopt NEP like other states in the country soon.

Adhikari said midday meals cooked by ISKCON will start on August 1. "The West Bengal government has decided to include eggs as part of the midday meals and self-help groups will supply the protein-packed eggs to provide a holistic meal for children, " CM said.

Speaking on NEP implementation, CM said that NEP has been accepted by all states, be it BJP ruled or not. “Only West Bengal did not accept NEP, PM Awas, PM Suryaghar and other central schemes,” he said.


Bengal’s vision is fully aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, CM said adding that “work is underway towards an education system that promotes foundational learning, experiential and competency-based education, critical thinking, creativity, innovation.”

The schools are being developed as Centres of Excellence that demonstrate the ideals of the National Education Policy 2020 through holistic education, digital learning, environmental sustainability. More than 2,200 crore has been allocated in this year's Budget.

The PM POSHAN programme continues to be strengthened. “The state's contribution towards the cooking cost for Pre-Primary and Primary students has been increased from 16.78 to 10.00 per child per day,” CM said. The State's support for Cook-cum-Helpers has been enhanced by 1,000 per month, raising their total honorarium to 3.000 per month.

“We have given land for Kendriya Vidyalayas. SC-ST-separate schemes will be started. Cycle distribution under the ‘Sarathi’ scheme is underway and Kanyashree will be renamed as “Kanya Ratna” Diwas. Bengal’s profit-making institution state PSU WBPDCL has given a proposal for starting a sanitary vending machine in schools,” he said.

West Bengal’s education system, from vocational to medical, will be focussed on a 360 degree development.

“We have accepted NEP and 800 schools have been brought under PM Shri. 1200 schools have been earmarked for Smart and digital classes in the state,” he said.

Adhikari released entire Composite School Grant amounting to 296.64 crore to 80,375 Government, Government-aided and Government-sponsored schools across the state after a gap of three years.

“Without composite grant, calks and dusters , bucket cannot be bought. Students oif Sunderbans or Purulia. The previous government had stopped chalks and dusters as they did not take money from composite grant,” CM said.

The Composite School Grant empowers individual schools to identify and address their own local needs. The funds may be utilised for maintenance of school buildings and classrooms, drinking water facilities, sanitation, cleanliness, minor repairs, electrical works and other essential requirements. Transition mid-day meal cooking to gas and provide necessary kitchen utensils.

State has allocated funds to install ceiling fans in hot, arid regions like Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, and the Rarh region—to alleviate student suffering during summer months.

“Last government did not give composite grant. It is important as contingency funds. Eklavya School under central government will be built. We have informed that we are ready to provide land for tribal population. We have given land for Navodaya Vidhyalaya for five districts,” CM said.