Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Jains oppose inclusion of egg in midday meal

Staff Correspondent

Fruits and milk would be a better proposition, says Yediyurappa

HUBLI: The inaugural ceremony of the twelve-day Mahamastabhishekha celebrations at Navagraha Tirtha, Varur near Hubli on Monday provided a platform for the religious heads of the Jain community to oppose the proposed move of the State Government to include egg under the Midday Meal Scheme.

Raising the issue Acharya Gunadhar Nandi Maharaj took strong exception to the proposed move, which he said would be a blow to the sentiments of vegetarians. It might result in parents deciding against sending their wards to schools, he said. He said he would stage a dharna in front of the Parliament if the proposed move were not withdrawn immediately.

Responding to the issue raised by the swamiji, former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said the objective of the midday meal scheme was to provide food to the children ensuring a reduction in their drop out rate. Non-vegetarian food should not be included under the scheme, he said.

There are number of non-governmental organisations involved in executing the midday meal scheme. The move to include eggs under the scheme would discourage them, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that given the opposition from religious heads of various communities and parents, he would speak to the Chief Minister in this regard and try to withdraw the proposed move. He said fruits and milk would be a better proposition instead of eggs.

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