Maharashtra government revises cost of eggs provided with midday meal

Last month, the state’s school education department declared that midday meals served in government schools will now also include egg or banana as per student’s preference. While the government had fixed an additional cost of Rs 5 per student for either egg or banana to be served with midday meal, schools across state had raised concerns over one standard cost for egg when market rates are fluctuating. Schools had demanded that the state government review the decision of fixed cost for eggs.

Days after concerns raised by schools, the state’s school education department has issued a Government Resolution (GR) declaring revision of cost for eggs. Instead of a fixed cost of Rs 5 per egg, average market rates fixed by the National Egg Coordination Committee will now be considered to fix one cost for eggs, every month.

Expressing relief, spokesperson for Maharashtra School Principals’ Association, Mahendra Ganpule, said, “There were several issues with one standardised cost when market rate for eggs was different at different times. Even suppliers were not ready to provide eggs at this cost throughout the year. More importantly, a school cannot order one egg per child, there have to be more in a lot to ensure another if any egg is broken during transit. Rates fixed by the National Egg Coordination Committee are for a set lot and not per egg. This is a more convenient method.”

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