Karnataka: 568 schools face action for violating midday meal egg guidelines

The Department of School Education and Literacy has initiated disciplinary proceedings against 568 government and aided schools across the state for violating the mandated midday meal guidelines. These schools were found substituting eggs with bananas, despite the scheme's requirement to provide eggs six days a week.

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The action follows an inspection conducted by the Azim Premji Foundation, which currently funds egg distribution in many schools. During its review of 762 schools, the Foundation identified widespread non-compliance in 568 institutions. The inspection revealed irregularities such as schools providing eggs only two or three times a week and replacing them with bananas on other days.

Further investigation pointed to the inefficiency of the School Development Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), which are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the meal program. In some instances, bananas were distributed on Mondays and Saturdays without consulting parents or considering students’ preferences, even though eggs were available and students were willing to eat them.

The Education Department has taken a serious view of the violations and issued formal notices to the schools involved. Officials have warned of strict disciplinary measures against those failing to adhere to the scheme's nutritional norms. The department emphasized that such deviations undermine the program’s goal of improving child nutrition and must be rectified immediately to ensure consistent and nutritious meal delivery to students.