Egg Price Hike Impacts Mid-Day Meals in Some Districts, Says Madhu Bangarappa

Karnataka School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Monday acknowledged that rising market prices of eggs have affected the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in certain districts across the state.

Speaking in Bengaluru in response to a query raised by Congress leader Ramoji Gowda, the minister explained that egg distribution operates as a national programme under the broader nutrition scheme. He noted that market rates for eggs vary and are not uniform across regions.

Bangarappa stated that the surge in prices has particularly created challenges in districts that have a higher number of enrolled children and elevated consumption rates.

Addressing how schools cope with the price fluctuations, the minister pointed out that students do not consume eggs on a daily basis. He noted that certain practices and rituals lead some students to opt for bananas instead of eggs.

According to Bangarappa, this preference for bananas has assisted teachers and school administrations in managing the overall supply and maintaining the meal scheme even when egg prices rise in the open market.