West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari officially launched a revamped mid-day meal project on Saturday, inaugurating ISKCON’s sprawling new central kitchen in Kolkata. The initiative, spearheaded by ISKCON’s Annamrita Foundation, will provide fresh, nutritious lunches to 44,000 students across 500 city schools starting August 1.
Following a traditional yajna ceremony, Chief Minister Adhikari stirred the day’s cooking pot before flagging off a fleet of electric vehicles designated for meal delivery across the capital. This pilot project in Kolkata marks the first phase of a broader rollout across the state.
Eggs Distributed Separately Due to Public Feedback
During the inauguration, Adhikari clarified the state's decision to distribute eggs separately to students. He stated that this move was a direct response to public feedback and requests from students and guardians for a non-vegetarian item, rather than political pressure.
“The menu of ISKCON meals includes dal, rajma, soya bean, and paneer, all of which have high protein content and, with the additional seasonal fruits, make up for the wholesome nutrition of students. We chose to provide eggs separately because students and guardians requested a non-veg item,” Adhikari explained.
Expansion Plans and Budgetary Increase
The Chief Minister outlined ambitious plans to significantly expand the mid-day meal program. Within three months, the initiative aims to reach 2.5 lakh students, with the ultimate goal of covering every school in West Bengal. To facilitate this large-scale expansion, the government has increased budgetary allocations for pre-primary and primary sections to ₹10 per meal per student.
Adhikari also addressed criticisms regarding the meal composition, emphasizing his government's strong legislative mandate. He asserted that the administration would prioritize the wishes of the people over opposition or media critiques, citing the government's mandate with 208 MLAs. He further noted that evolving public dietary preferences take time to adapt, referencing mindsets formed under previous administrations.