MANGALURU: The Karnataka government, with support from the Azim Premji Foundation, plans to introduce eggs in midday meals six days a week. However, due to religious and cultural factors, not all children in Dakshina Kannada are expected to consume eggs on all six days. Previously, when eggs, chikki, and bananas were introduced, officials from Akshara Dasoha and teachers ensured that eggs were not served on specific days like Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays to accommodate religious considerations.
A government school teacher explained that many children avoided eggs on certain days for religious reasons, preferring chikki or bananas instead. This issue is expected to persist with the new six-day egg initiative, as many children will continue to avoid eggs on specific days, switching to other options. Another teacher noted that children who regularly consume eggs tend to switch to chikki and bananas occasionally, especially during festivals and religious obligations, making it challenging to procure these items consistently.
In Dakshina Kannada, there are approximately 1.4 lakh children, with 1.3 lakh benefiting from eggs, chikki, and bananas during the midday meal. According to Akshara Dasoha officials, 91,745 children consume eggs, 9,538 prefer bananas, and 36,480 opt for peanut chikki. The number of children choosing eggs or chikki varies as students switch between the options. Jnanesh MP, the executive officer of Akshara Dasoha in Dakshina Kannada, mentioned that no communication has been received yet regarding serving eggs six days a week.