Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earmarked ₹1,500 crore for the initiative, which will be implemented jointly with the Azim Premji Foundation.
Published Mar 07, 2025 | 7:37 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 08, 2025 | 8:55 AM
13-year-old dies of food poisoning in Mandya, 28 other students hospitalised (Representational photo)
Synopsis: The government made the decision after a marked improvement in attendance was found on days eggs were served.
The Karnataka government has decided to serve eggs to schoolchildren along with their mid-day meals six days a week.
Presenting the Budget 2025-26 in the state legislative Assembly on Friday, 7 March, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earmarked ₹1,500 crore for the initiative, which will be implemented jointly with the Azim Premji Foundation.
The allocation was made after the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) found a marked improvement in attendance when eggs were provided.
The DPI found that when eggs were provided twice a week, the attendance stood at 93.5 percent. The attendance rose to 98.97 percent when eggs were served on six days, reflecting the effectiveness of the scheme.
A survey the DPI had conducted revealed a strong preference for eggs over other supplementary nutrition options.
The number of students benefiting from the scheme has grown considerably:
As of August 2024, when eggs were given twice a week, 48.13 lakh students (93.66%) were covered under the scheme.
By January 2025, after the six-day egg distribution began:
In total, 10.58 crore (98.97%) students benefited from the scheme.
Reports showed that for many children, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the promise of a nutritious meal was a strong motivation to attend school.
By expanding the availability of eggs and bananas from twice a week to six days, the government hopes to ensure consistent nutrition and keep students in classrooms.
The decision also builds on data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which highlighted worrying levels of undernutrition and anemia among children in Karnataka.
While the initiative has been welcomed, experts have raised concerns about its implementation.
“It is good that, on paper, eggs are being given in schools as part of the MDM on seven days of the week. But attention needs to be given to the implementation,” Dr Sylvia Karpagam said.
She pointed out that caste-based (sattvik) organisations have refused to follow government mandates regarding the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme, disregarding instructions to include onions, garlic, or eggs in school meals. “Basically, they, not the government, make the rules,” she said.
Dr. Karpagam also criticised the reliance on private funding. “This is an initiative dependent on private funds, which is a shame. The budgets have to factor better nutrition for children of the state, including for eggs, other diverse nutrient-dense foods, and school-based kitchens,” she added.
She continued: “Children who don’t consume eggs should be offered milk or dairy based products like paneer or curd (or cheese) as these are animal source foods.
“Banana does not offer equivalent nutrition as eggs or other animal source foods.”
Understanding that not all students consume eggs, the government will continue offering bananas as an alternative.
This ensures that every child receives a protein- and nutrient-rich supplement, regardless of dietary preferences or restrictions.
“Many children rely on school meals for their daily nutrition. This decision will not only improve their health but also encourage them to attend school regularly,” said a senior education department official.
Originally introduced in 2021 in seven districts with high malnutrition rates, the egg distribution programme was expanded due to its success in improving weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and overall student well-being. The latest Budget provision makes it a permanent, state-wide feature.
Speaking to the media, Dr KV Trilok Chandra, Commissioner of DPI, emphasised the scheme’s success:
“It has been observed that children’s attendance in schools has increased as eggs and bananas are being provided six days a week. This is a good development, as not only will malnutrition in children be reduced, but they will also develop academically,” he said.
With the strong correlation between nutrition and attendance, Karnataka’s mid-day meal expansion could serve as a model for other states aiming to improve education and public health simultaneously.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
