Karnataka: Rise in egg prices triggers demand for mid-day meal fund hike

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Egging for more: Madhu Bangarappa, School Education and Literacy Minister, during the session, at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru on Monday.

Amid demands to increase the average funds allotted for the purchase of eggs under the mid-day meal scheme, School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa, while acknowledging the rise in egg prices, said on Monday that a decision would be taken after discussions with the Finance Department.

Responding to a question from Congress member Ramoji Gowda, the Minister told the Legislative Council, indicating the fluctuation in prices, “I agree that the increase in egg prices has been causing problems. Though the price was ₹7.10 per egg some time ago, it is around ₹5.33 to ₹5.93 per egg in August.”

Earlier, Mr. Gowda said the price of an egg was currently hovering between ₹8 and ₹8.50, while the government was providing ₹6 per egg, and demanded that the government increase the amount to match the market rate.

Acknowledging that egg distribution had been affected in some districts where the number of students is high and egg consumption among them is also high, the Minister pointed to variations in consumption, with some children not consuming eggs daily owing to certain beliefs and practices and preferring bananas on some days. “This is also helping teachers manage supplies even when the price goes up in the market,” he said.

To another question from Congress member Bilkis Bano on the distribution of shoes and socks to school children, the Minister said that it would be completed by August 28.

“The delay in distribution is due to a change in the process. We have also imposed a penalty clause in case of delayed supply. As many as 14 lakh pairs have to be supplied, and the process will be completed by August 28,” he said. He added that the government’s expenditure on the distribution of shoes and socks had come down from ₹116 crore annually to ₹76 crore.

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