Madhu Bangarappa
Credit: X/@Madhu_Bangarapp
Bengaluru: After a surprise check by the Azim Premji Foundation found that eggs were not being served to schoolchildren on specific days of a week at the instance of the members of School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC), the Department of School Education and Literacy has decided to get a consent form from parents at the time of admission or at the beginning of the academic year.
The Azim Premji Foundation has pledged Rs 1,500 crore for distributing eggs as a nutritional supplement to schoolchildren as part of the midday meals. On Monday, responding to a question by BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar about eggs not being served to children at some schools, Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa admitted that some parents did not want their children to eat eggs on specific days of the week.
“So, we have decided to obtain consent from parents at the time of admission to know their preference – whether they want their children to be served eggs or bananas. It’s good to get parental approval in such matters,” said the minister.
Madhu, however, rejected allegations of funds allocated for supplying eggs and bananas to children being misappropriated. “There is no misappropriation of funds. The price of eggs fluctuates, and the respective SDMCs keep whatever money is left.”
Azim Premji Foundation found that eggs were not being distributed at 568 of the 762 schools that its members visited. After the foundation submitted a report on its findings, the department issued a notice to SDMCs.