Eggs in midday most welcome – but why only 3 eggs a week and only in 7 districts?

Open letter to Education Minister, Government of Karnataka

Eggs in midday most welcome – but why only 3 eggs a week and only in 7 districts?

We, the members of different Civil Society Organisations welcome the decision of the state government to provide eggs for children in select districts of Karnataka, as part of Mid Day Meals to uphold the Right to Food of every child as enshrined in the National Food Security Act 2013. This is very much needed to reduce malnutrition and promote their  health.

However, as a group of nutritionists, doctors, activists, lawyers, and citizens who are extremely concerned about child malnutrition in Karnataka, we think eggs are should be provided as part of the mid-day meal scheme on all school days to all children in Karnataka, who are used to consuming eggs.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5^th round (2019), most children in Karnataka do not reach their ideal height and weight. Stunting (less height for age) of 35.4% and being underweight (less weight for age) of 32.9% are common in children even before they start their school life, and this is much more so in children from vulnerable communities.

We are concerned that these indicators would have worsened considerably due to the pandemic and lockdown.

Inclusion of eggs in the Mid-day Meal Scheme

The aim of the Akshara Dasoha (mid-day meal scheme) in Karnataka was both educational and nutritional – to increase school enrolment and attendance, decrease dropout rates, promote good health through nutritional foods and increasing learning ability of children. Several studies have provided  evidence of the benefits of this program.

As per National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and demands from civil society, nutritionists doctors, advocates, parents, children etc., eggs should be mandatory in mid-day meals owing to its numerous nutritional benefits. Karnataka has been the ONLY South Indian state that has not provided eggs as part of MDM, inspite of the fact that 94% students in the government and aided schools belong to communities that eat eggs. According to the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) at least 83% of the state’s population does not have any cultural or religious objections to consuming eggs. States like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with budgets comparable to Karnataka provide eggs 5 times a week.

The provision of egg is important because it is a low-cost, easy to cook, culturally acceptable and locally available alternative with high Protein component with biological value of 100 as compared to 60-70 for pulses (daal) and a good source of all vitamins except C. The possibility of adulteration is less and monitoring the stock supply is easier.  Children who cannot consume eggs can be offered a seasonal fruit, additional milk or curd.

This benefit of this investment on the health and nutrition of children far outweighs the costs. Karnataka would need an allocation of 370 crores for three eggs a week and 617 crores for 5 eggs a week for children from class One to ten. (5% administrative expense, 44 weeks of schooling a year @Rs 5/egg). This would be approximately 2.32% of total education department budget and just 0.05% of the GDP. There is no other measure  remotely comparable in terms of impact on the high levels of malnutrition amongst children in our state

We, the undersigned are extremely concerned at our children being denied a basic nutrient dense food over the last several years. Many nutritional deficiencies have long term and often irreversible consequences. Malnutrition should be prevented not treated, hence  there is no justification  to leave out the other districts or provide only 3 eggs a week.

In addition, we must remember that though levels of stunting and undernutrition have marginally improved in Karnataka, these are only the severe forms. (severe is less than -2 SD and very severe is less than -3 SD). We do not have clear estimates of moderate malnutrition (<-1 SD) and the focus of any government should be to address nutritional deficiencies before they go into the severe category and ideally prevent malnutrition in the first place. One of the factors that contributes to India’s low ranking of 101 out of 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index is the rate of child stunting. A properly planned school meal but a proactive government can go a long way in addressing / preventing a malnutrition crisis.

Eggs – the best option

The government is now pushing for mandatory fortification of rice with iron, folic acid and B12 as a solution to address nutritional deficiencies and millets are also being pushed as a way to address malnutrition. Fortification will only increase costs, increase dependence on companies (premixes have to be flown or shipped in from other countries), reduce shelf life and take away the food sovereignty of communities. Food fortification has little scientific basis or economic validity.

Millets and cereals belong to the same food group. While they can have a role in meeting the energy needs of the population, these are not nutrient dense foods and cannot provide the required protein, vitamin and mineral needs of the population, especially the most vulnerable.  Millets and fortification are not the solution to malnutrition – diverse diet is key.

Considering that the rates of stunting and underweight in children under 5 are high as in Karnataka, the possibility of multiple nutritional deficiencies are also high. Because iron deficiency commonly measured, it doesn’t mean that replacing only iron will solve the nutritional problems. There is a need for multiple nutrients and good quality proteins. These can only come from nutrient dense and diverse foods such as dairy/milk, oils/fats, eggs, meat, fish and poultry, legumes/pulses, vegetables. Traditionally people are used to eating animal meats, poultry and fish and this has also supported local economy and prevented families from falling into dire poverty. The BJP governments in Goa and North East India are supporting the rights of communities that eat meat, to continue doing so. The BJP government in Karnataka should not let down our children, especially those from the weaker sections of society.

Encouraging community kitchen gardens, school-based kitchens and the addition of foods from different food groups especially the nutrient dense animal source foods is a first step. 

The way forward

We demand that the government urgently take following measures:-

1. Eggs should be mandatorily provided daily to the children in all the 31 districts of Karnataka. The contract for the supply should be given to local self-help or women’s groups to support the livelihood of communities as well.
2. Milk or milk powder should be provided to the school-children under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme daily. This milk should be reconstituted at the school and provided fresh to the children. Under no circumstances should the milk be reconstituted and then transported as happens with centralized kitchens.
3. Extra effort has to go to ensure that children in tribal belts, dalit children, children from OBC communities are not left out.
4. School-based kitchens should be set up in all schools. All centralized contracts should be cancelled immediately.
5. The focus should move from cereals/millets and fortification to a more diverse and nutrient dense diet.
6. To provide all the above said entitlements state as duty bearer must enhance the unit cost of the nutritional meal.
7. Health check ups to be organized for all school children in the state immediately through the health department / PHCs. Regular health tracking of children to be done with help of health department, along with the provision of deworming, iron tablets etc.

ಕಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಸಚಿವರಿಗೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಪತ್ರ

ದಿನಾಂಕ: 11.12.2021

ಇದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರಕಾರದ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇರೆ ಬೇರೆ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಏಳು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಶಾಲಾ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ತತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊದುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸರಕಾರವು ಕೈಗೊಂಡ ನಿರ್ಧಾರದ ಕುರಿತು ಸ್ವಾಗತವನ್ನು ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿ ಬರೆದ ಪತ್ರವಾಗಿದೆ. ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಆಹಾರ ಭದ್ರತಾ ಕಾನೂನಿನ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಒಂದೊಂದುಮಗುವಿನ ಆಹಾರದ ಹಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನದ ಬಿಸಿಯೂಟ ದೊರೆತಿದೆ.ದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೆಡಂಭೂತವಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದು ನಿಂತಿರುವ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಅಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕತೆಯ ನಿವಾರಣೆಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅವರ ಆರೋಗ್ಯದ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ಸರಿಯಾದ ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ.

ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ವೈದ್ಯರು, ಆಹಾರ ತಜ್ಞರು, ಹೋರಾಟಗಾರರು, ವಕೀಲರು, ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಅಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕತೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚಿಂತಿತರಾಗಿರುವ ನಾಗರಿಕರು, ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳು, ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನದ ಬಿಸಿಯೂಟದಲ್ಲಿ ತತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊಡುವುದನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

2019ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊರಬಂದ 5ನೇ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಕುಟುಂಬ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಸಮೀಕ್ಷೆಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ತಮ್ಮ ವಯಸ್ಸಿಗನುಗುಣವಾಗಿ ಎತ್ತರ ಮತ್ತು ತೂಕವನ್ನು ಗಳಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಸುಮಾರು 35.4 ಪ್ರತಿಶತ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ವಯಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತಕ್ಕ ಎತ್ತರವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಕುಳ್ಳರಾಗಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಸುಮಾರು 32.5% ಮಕ್ಕಳು ವಯಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತಕ್ಕ ತೂಕ ಪಡೆಯದೇ ಕಡಿಮೆ ತೂಕದವರಾಗಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಶಾಲಾರಂಭದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಅವಾರ ಎತ್ತರ ಮತ್ತು ತೂಕದ ಕತೆ ಇದು. ದುರ್ಬಲ ವರ್ಗಗಳ ಮಕ್ಕಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇದು ಇನ್ನೂ ತೀವ್ರವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ.

ಇಂದು ಕೆಲವು ಸಸ್ಯಾಹಾರಿ ಜಾತಿಗಳ ಜನರು ಮತ್ತು ಮಠಾಧೀಶರುಗಳು ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊಡಬಾರದು ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಚಾರವನ್ನೂ, ಸರಕಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಒತ್ತಡವನ್ನೂ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಹಿಂದೆಯೂ ಕೂಡ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತತ್ತಿ ಕೊಡಬಾರದು ಎಂದು ಸರಕಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಒತ್ತಡ ತಂದು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ತತ್ತಿ ಸಿಗದಂತೆ ಮಾಡುವಲ್ಲಿ ಸಫಲರಾಗಿದ್ದರು.ಇಂದೂ ಕೂಡ, 7 ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊಟ್ಟೆಯನ್ನು ಕೊಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಸರಕಾರವು ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿರುವಾಗ ಈ ಮಠಾಧೀಶರುಗಳ ಅದೇ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ ಮತ್ತೆ ನಡೆದಿದೆ.

ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಅಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕತೆಯು ಜಗಜ್ಜಾಹೀರಾಗಿರುವಾಗ, ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಮಕ್ಕಳಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರೊಟೀನ್ ಕೊರತೆಯು ಮುಂದಿನ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಯನ್ನು ಕುಂಠಿತಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆಂಬುದು ಸಾಬೀತಾಗಿರುವಾಗ ಸರಕಾರವು ಯಾವುದೇ ಒತ್ತಡಕ್ಕೂ ಮಣಿಯದೇ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಶಾಲಾ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಮೊಟ್ಟೆಯನ್ನು ಕೊಡಮಾಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಕೋರುತ್ತೇವೆ.

ಸರಕಾರವು ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ಈ ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು.

1. ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ 31 ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ತತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನದ ಬಿಸಿಯೂಟದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೊದಬೇಕು. ತತ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಸರಬರಾಜು ಮಾಡುವ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಮುದಾಯದ ಜೀವನೋಪಾಯ ಬಲಗೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಸ್ವಸಹಾಯ ಸಂಘಗಳಿಗೆ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು.
2. ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಕ್ಷೀರಭಾಗ್ಯ ಯೋಜನೆಯಡಿ ಪ್ರತಿನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಹಾಲು ಅಥವಾ ಹಾಲಿನ ಪುಡಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಬೇಕು. ಹಾಲಿನ ಪುಡಿಯಿಂದ ಎಲ್ಲಿಯೋ ಹಾಲು ತಯಾರು ಮಾಡಿ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ತಂದುಕೊಡುವುದಲ್ಲ, ಬದಲಿಗೆ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಹಾಲು ತಯಾರಿಸಿ ಕೊಡಬೇಕು.
3. ಬುಡಕಟ್ತು ಮಕ್ಕಳು, ದಲಿತ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಮತ್ತು ಹಿಂದುಳಿದ ಜಾತಿಗಳ ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೂ ಬಿಟ್ಟುಹೋಗದಂತೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳಾಗಬೇಕು.
4. ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಶಾಲೆಗೆ ಹೊಂದಿಕೊಂಡಂತಹ ಅಡಿಗೆ ಖೋಲಿ ಇರಬೇಕು. ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದಲೋ ತಂದು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಉಣಬಡಿಸುವ ಗುತ್ತಿಗೆದಾರಿ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯನ್ನು ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಬೇಕು. ಅದು ಆಹಾರ ಭದ್ರತಾ ಕಾನೂನಿಗೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾದುದು.
5. ಅಕ್ಕಿಗೆ ಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕಾಂಶವನ್ನು ಬೆರೆಸಿ ಬೆಳೆಸುವ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಕಾರ ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅದರ ಬದಲಿಗೆ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯಮಯ ಆಹಾರವಸ್ತುಗಳನ್ನು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ನೀಡುವ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸರಕಾರ ವಿಚಾರ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.
6. ಇವೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಿಸಲು ಸರಕಾರವು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಆಹಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಲಿಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ಇಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಬಜೆಟ್ ನ್ನು ಜಾಸ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು.
7. ತಕ್ಷಣವೇ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರಕಾರವು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಪರಿವೀಕ್ಷಣೆ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಕೇಂದ್ರದ ನೆರವಿನಿಂದ ಏರ್ಪಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮತ್ತು ಮುಂದೆಯೂ ಕೂಡ ಅದರ ನಿಯಮಿತ ಅನುಸರಣೆ ಆಗಬೇಕು. ಜಂತುಹುಳ ನಿವಾರಣಾ ಮಾತ್ರೆಗಳು, ಕಬ್ಬಿಣಾಂಶಯುಕ್ತ ಮಾತ್ರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ನಿಯಮಿತವಾಗಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಿರಬೇಕು.

Memorandum in Kannada

Endorsed by

Organisations

1. Ahara namma hakku (Our food our right)
2. Right to Food Campaign Right to Food Campaign
3. Drug Action Forum, Karnataka
4. National Coalition on the Education Emergency
5. Stree Jagruti Samiti – Domestic workers rights union
6. ಜಾಗೃತ್ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಒಕ್ಕೂಟ, ಗೋಶ್ಯಾನಟ್ಟಿ ಗ್ರಾಮ, ಖಾನಾಪುರ ತಾಲೂಕ, ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ
7. ActionAid Association
8. Slum Jagatthu
9. GRAKOOS,Karnataka.
10. Institution of Veterinarians of Poultry Industry (IVPI)
11. Safaikarmachari Kavalu Samithi- Karnataka
12. Thamate
13. Gamana Mahila Samuha
14. Peoples’ Democratic Forum
15. Health for All     
16. Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru
17. Karnataka Domestic Workers Union
18. Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS), Karnataka
19. Jan Swasthya Abhiyan-Mumbai
20. Justice Coalition of Religious – West India
21. Global Concerns India /Admaya Aananya Okkutta
22. CIVIC Bangalore Right to Food Campaign

Individuals

1. Siddharth K J, Independent Researcher, Bengaluru
2. Shriyuta Abhishek, Public health worker                 
3. S Subramanian, Independent Scholar          
4. Brinda Adige, Citizen of India            
5. Swati Narayan, Right to Food Campaign                
6. S.Krishnaswamy, Retired Professor ex Madurai Kamaraj University          
7. Kamini Correa, Concerned citizen                
8. Binu Thomas, Concerned citizen                            
9. Prof. Mohan Rao,          Independent public health scholar/Jan Swasthya Abhiyan             
10. Shwetha, Concerned citizen    
11. Sudha N  Independent          
12. Juanita John, Concerned Citizen                            
13. Sreeparna Chattopadhyay       , Ass Prof.     
14. Vijayalakshmi     Concerned citizen   
15. Hari Adivarekar  Photojournalist                 
16. Rohit Katti, Concerned Citizen                     
17. BS MANJAPPA, Individual                 
18. Vinay Sreenivasa, Advocate              
19. K J Pavan, Concerned citizen             
20. Veena Shatrugna, Former Deputy Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
21. Sharada Gopal    Right to Food Campaign Karnataka             
22. Madhu Bhushan, Women’s rights activist
23. Frédéric Leroy, University of Brussels, Belgium                 
24. Santhosh Chandrashekar, Concerned citizen                    
25. Vivek Jadhav, Indian Institute of Science                
26. Altaf Ahamed, Individual                  
27. Kavya, Citizen              
28. Vidya Dinker, INSAF               
29. Ajay Raj, Journalist                 
30. Surya, Independent citizen                          
31. Amita Pitre, Independent Development Practitioner              
32. Arul Anthony, Concerned citizen                           
33. Avani Chokshi, All India People’s Forum                 
34. Harry, Concerned citizen                             
35. Malarvizhi, Individual             
36. Anita Cheria, OpenSpace                            
37. Manjunatha M V                    
38. Abhilash C A, Grama Seva Sangha               
39. Dr. Joseph Xavier , Director, Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru         
40. Gayatri Menon  
41. V. Kasturi, Pharmacist             
42. Jean Dreze, Economist           
43. S.Chatterjee , AIPSN               
44. Dr. Amar Jesani, Independent Researcher/Teacher (Bioethics & Public Health)          
45. Lekha Shree BT, Concerned citizen              
46. Hariprasad          , Concerned Individual                 
47. Venkatesh Athreya, Hon Professor, Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, Thiruvananthapuram           
48. Prajval Shastri,  Astrophysicist, Bengaluru              
49. Aysha, Right to Food Campaign                  
50. Shruthi H M                           
51. Vandana Prasad, Public Health and Nutrition Expert              
52. Rajani Santosh, Concerned citizen
53. Jerald D’souza, Advocate
54. Dr. Sylvia Karpagam, Public health doctor
55. Dr. Sajida Khan
56. Kumar Sringeri, Social activist, Right to food and education
57. R. Ramakrishna, State joint secretary, Bharath Gyan Vigyan Samithi, (B.G.V.S.) Karnataka.
58. Dr. T. Dharshan, General Surgeon, Bengaluru
59. Dr. Chirag Jain, Neurosurgeon, NIMHANS
60. Dr. Bhargavi Vijayanandam, MBBS
61. Achintya Prahlad, Research Scholar, Ashoka University
62. Madhabi Chakravarti, Content Writer, Concerned citizen
63. Dr. Varun Venkat Raghavan, Clinical Geneticist
64. Dr. Deeksha Vijaykumar, General Physician
65. Monish T, Concerned citizen
66. J. Nalini Shree, Concerned citizen
67. M. G. Thulasi Dass, Architect, Concerned citizen
68.  Rohith Aras, Assistant Professor, Architecture
69. Rakesh Sambamurthy, Chemical Engineer
70. Akhilesh Ghodi, Data Scientist
71.  Dr. Azher Husain, Radiologist
72. Teena Xavier, Social activist
73. Vasundhara Rangaswamy, Physician
74. Sushrut Jadhav, University College London
75. Lokesh, Working professional
76. Bijoya Roy, Public Health Researcher
77. Basawa Prasad Kunale, Advocate
78. Brinelle D’souza, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
79. Rama Melkote, Prof, Retd, Osmania University, Hyderabad,
80. Abhay Shukla, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
81. Professor G Devegowda Emeritus Professor, Veterinary college, Bangalore
82. Eswarappa. M, Documentary maker
83. Mohith Shivakumar, National law school of India University Bangalore
84. Deepika Joshi, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan
85. Cedric Prakash, Human Rights
86. Zohra Calcuttawala, Association for India’s Development – aidindia.org
87. Dr. Amar Jesani, Independent Consultant
88. Dr Mira Shiva, Public Health Physician
89. NARENDRA GUPTA
90. Navneet Wadkar, Project Officer- Centre for Environment Education, Pune
91. Sulakshana Nandi, Public Health Researcher
92. Mansi Singh Tomar
93. Bijayalaxmi Rautaray, Social Worker
94. Shashank SR, PhD Scholar & Journalist
95. Indranil, JSA Delhi
96. Sarojini N
97. Jayanthi

Media Coverage

• CNN-IBN, ‘Religious Groups Frown at Karnataka Govt’s Initiative of Providing Eggs in Mid-day Meals, Threaten with State-wide Protests‘, Dec 5, 2021.
• Deccan Herald, ‘Karnataka government’s decision to provide eggs to school children sparks debate‘, Dec 5, 2021.

• India Today TV, ‘Eggs Now Part Of Mid-Day Meal In 7 Districts In Karnataka, Lingayat Seers Oppose Move‘, Dec 6, 2021.
• India Today, ‘Eggs now part of mid-day meal in 7 districts in Karnataka; seers oppose move‘, Dec 6, 2021
• Deccan Herald, ‘Eggs in midday meal a welcome decision‘, Dec 8, 2021.

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