Stop boiled eggs in Mid-day Meal: PIL in High Court

Mysuru:  Even as the debate continues over distribution of boiled eggs to school children under Mid-day Meal scheme, a city Advocate has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court seeking an immediate stop to the distribution of boiled eggs to school children under the Government’s ambitious Mid-day Meal scheme.

Advocate V. Ravikumar is the one who has filed a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) seeking stoppage of distribution of boiled eggs to school children, citing that chicken are fed with steroids and that the use of expired eggs will hinder the grasping power of children.

Ravikumar in his petition, also highlighted that the distribution of boiled eggs will give rise to a possible division among vegetarian and non-vegetarian children and also between caste and communities among children at an young age, besides giving rise to health issues.

Highlighting that chicken are given steroid injections for getting a higher  meat yield at a faster pace,Ravikumar said this will also have a bearing on the health of children who consume eggs of such steroid injected chicken. He also questioned the quality of eggs that are distributed to children.

Ravikumar further argued that Azim Premji Foundation has given Rs.1,500 crore for distribution of eggs to school children.

However, the Government has issued notices to several BEOs charging them with improper use of funds, which goes to show that all is not well in the distribution of eggs, he said adding that the scheme itself is unscientific in nature and as such egg distribution must be stopped.