Akshaya Patra says no to garlic, onion in midday meals in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Akshaya Patra, which supplies midday meals to 4.5 lakh schoolchildren in Karnataka, has turned down the government’s request to include onion and garlic in its preparations. Akshaya Patra said on Thursday that its meals comply with the nutritional norms prescribed by the HRD ministry.

The department of public instructions, based on suggestions by the state food commission, had sought onion and garlic in midday meals for the 2018-19 academic year.

A senior official of Askhaya Patra said: “We provide about 25 varieties of meals in a month and each has (the) prescribed nutritional value mentioned on the charts. Moreover, rice is fortified.”

In more pressure on Akshaya Patra, the Right to Food Campaign and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan campaigners have been seeking inclusion of eggs in the meals. Dr Sylvia Karpagam, a public health expert, said: “Most students eat eggs at home. Sometimes, they may not be able to afford it. Therefore, eggs, too, should be introduced in midday meals. Without that, children may not get enough proteins in their daily diet.”