DIVIDED: Members of the Federation of Indian Vegetarian Communities and Organisations staging a protest against the plan to include egg in the midday meal scheme, at Nehru Park ground in Bangalore on Thursday. (Right) Members of the Joint Action Foru m of Child Rights Alliances holding a demonstration in front of Town Hall in support of egg. — Photos: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE: A day before the State Government was expected to decide on including egg in midday meal scheme, groups holding divergent views on the issue staged separate demonstrations in Bangalore.

The Joint Action Forum of Child Rights Alliances Karnataka held a protest in front of Town Hall in support of the Government's plan to provide egg to those who are willing to have it and milk or fruits to the other children. Hailing the Government's plan, the forum said it was in the best interests of children.

Addressing the gathering, U.R. Ananthamurthy, writer, said, "Politics and religion should not be mixed and the Chief Minister should not yield to pressure. Egg should be given to those who would like to have it and undiluted milk to those who did not wish to have eggs."

`Violation of rights'

V.P. Niranjanaradhya of the School Development and Monitoring Committee Coordination Forum, said, "Development issues should not be mixed with politics and religion. Denying egg would be a violation of child rights."

In fact, he pointed out, a survey conducted by the Department of Education had revealed that 84 per cent of the children wanted egg in the midday meal scheme.

Chairman of PUCL Hasan Mansoor, Amrose Pinto, writer, and others spoke.

Another protest

Heads of several religious institutions also staged a demonstration at Nehru Park Ground in Seshadripuram seeking a Government Order against providing egg permanently in midday meal scheme.

They pointed out that milk should be given instead of egg.

The demonstration organised by the Akhila Karnataka Prani Daya Sangha and Federation of Indian Vegetarian Communities and Organisations was attended by religious leaders, including Mathe Mahadevi of Basava Dharma Peetha.

Justifying the role of religious leaders in the no-egg campaign, Mathe Mahadevi said, "Writers and intellectuals should not have a uni-dimensional approach to the problem. Religious heads have the responsibility of guiding society in religious and spiritual matters. Politicians should not involve themselves in religious matters."

Mathe Mahadevi said several communities had restricted the use of egg in their dietary practices, and members of many communities had become vegetarians voluntarily.

Stating that a communal colour was being given to the struggle, she said, opposition to providing egg in midday meal scheme was not based on any religion.

She said, "Milk and fruits can be given to children whose religious beliefs do not allow consumption of egg."

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