Activists have questioned the government's decision to partner with the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Foundation and to distribute food from a centralised kitchen.
Published Aug 06, 2024 | 1:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 06, 2024 | 1:00 PM
The Akshaya Patra Foundation is an NGO under ISKCON which promotes 'Satwik' food. (Representational pic/Creative Commons)
The Telangana government’s decision to partially resume the breakfast scheme for students of state-run schools has sparked a debate over its proposed partnership with the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Foundation and the centralised kitchen plan.
The pilot programme planned to be rolled out in the Kodangal Assembly constituency, aims to feed 28,000 students. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy represents Kodangal in the state Legislative Assembly.
While deciding to relaunch the programme initially implemented by the previous BRS government, the Revanth Reddy dispensation selected the Hare Rama Hare Krishna (Charitable) Foundation, a non-profit linked to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation.
The Foundation will be responsible for providing meals to Kodangal schools, once the centralised kitchen becomes functional.
While reaffirming his government’s commitment to improving the quality of education in the state, Revanth Reddy announced a comprehensive plan for implementing the breakfast scheme statewide.
Interestingly, the announcement came after the Congress government had silently discontinued BRS’s statewide Chief Minister Breakfast Scheme this academic year.
While welcoming the government’s move to resume the breakfast scheme, several activists appealed to Revanth Reddy on 2 August to reconsider partnering with the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Foundation.
Pointing towards the lack of transparency and increased transport costs, a memorandum they submitted to the chief minister listed the demerits of opting for a centralised kitchen.
Speaking to South First, civic activist SQ Masood stated that each locality has a set of local needs. “We are concerned over providing optimal nutrition to the children,” he said.
“Decentralising the system will not just empower local communities, but also allow the children to eat fresh meals suited to their unique needs,” he opined.
Notably, the letter seeking immediate action had 51 signatories from across professions.
The signatories also flagged concerns over the quality of food the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Foundation will provide. Akshaya Patra, a related NGO, is responsible for cooking and delivering meals to the schools. However, both NGOs are religiously rooted.
ISKCON is the parent organisation of both NGOs. ISKCON promotes the monotheistic tradition within Hinduism, centred on the Bhagwad Gita.
It promotes a Satwik diet, devoid of eggs, meat, fish, poultry products, onions, and garlic. Additionally, it also disallows foods with strong flavours.
Exempting eggs has been pointed out as a cause of concern as it is an easily accessible source of protein for children. The signatories noted that the NGO’s refusal to serve eggs will affect the children’s nutritional needs.
The signatories are worried that the Akshaya Patra will promote its belief among students, who require a well-rounded nutritious meal for optimal growth.
They alleged that utilising a centralised kitchen violates the National Food Security Act, 2013. Sub-Section 2 of Article 5 under Chapter 2 mandates all local bodies, government and government-aided schools should have individual cooking facilities.
In 2019, Akshaya Patra found itself embroiled in a controversy when it refused to use onion and garlic for mid-day meals in Karnataka. Such soft imposition of its belief can potentially hamper the child’s nutrition, an ironic outcome of a scheme intending to battle malnutrition.
The signatories also point at the alleged tainted image of ISKCON and Akshaya Patra. They protested against handing over the contract to a private religious organisation, which they claimed, has a history of illegal donations and financial discrepancies.
On 16 July 2024, mid-day meal workers staged a protest along with the pro-CPI(M) trade union CITU against awarding contracts to Akshaya Patra. Stating that such privatisation has the potential to render thousands of female workers jobless, the workers took to the streets against the move.
Notably, the previous BRS government, too, launched the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in partnership with the Akshaya Patra Foundation. However, it limited the partnership to Hyderabad, in compliance with the exception under the National Food Safety Act, 2013.
Even as the breakfast scheme remains shrouded in suspense, there are renewed concerns regarding the mid-day meals programme in Telangana. Two recent instances have caught the public attention, causing outrage on social media.
In Nagarkurnool district, 16 girls from Kasturba Gurukula Girls School were rushed to the Kollapur Community Health Centre with food poisoning. Similarly, in Nizamabad, students from Upper Primary School in Kothapaly village were served rice mixed with chilli powder and oil, after they refused to eat bland lentils.
The Nizamabad incident triggered an outrage online with BRS leader T Harish Rao taking to X to express displeasure.
Terming the incident sad and irresponsible, he called for government action. He cited the incident event and the rollback of the breakfast scheme as proof for the Congress’s apathy towards students.
“Students are not getting proper meals due to the pending food bill and wages of cook-cum-helpers,” he stated. He called upon Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to clear the pending bills
South First tried contacting ISKCON for their response to the opposition. This report will be updated as and when a response is received.
నిజామాబాద్ జిల్లా కోటగిరి మండలం కొత్తపల్లి ప్రభుత్వ పాఠశాలలో శుక్రవారం సరైన భోజనం లేక ఆకలితో ఉన్న విద్యార్థులు కారం, నూనెతో అన్నం కలుపుకుని కడుపు నింపుకొన్నారు. ప్రభుత్వం భావిభారత పౌరుల పట్ల ఇంత బాధ్యతారహితంగా వ్యవహరించడం బాధాకరం.
విద్యార్థులకు పౌష్టికాహారం కోసం అందించే సిఎం… pic.twitter.com/7zmh8fv81S
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) August 4, 2024
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
