Kolkata: The Self-Help Groups (SHGs) working in the mid-day meal scheme in Bengal schools will be placed under Iskcon, the Bengal govt said in a notification on Friday. It, however, did not offer any clarity on whether eggs will be provided in the mid-day meals.The notification issued by the state project director, Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) to the govt schools read, “The service of existing SHGs/CCH shall be placed under the Foundation. They may be tagged either with the kitchen for helping in the preparation of meal or with the schools, for serving meals, washing of utensils or any other mid-day meal related activity as decided by the authority.”The Bengal govt also told Iskcon that “services of existing cook-cum-helpers shall be utilized by the foundation. Govt shall pay honorarium at approved rate via DBT through the Foundation.” Around 91 mostly women-led self-help groups (SHGs) have been serving mid-day meals to 1,968 Kolkata-based schools. These SHGs in Kolkata engage around 5,500 persons, mostly women.The second order (Letter of Award) to Iskcon by the Bengal govt, also dated Friday, does not refer to any specific food menu. It says, “Implementation of protein-rich diversified meal as mentioned in the proposed weekly menu in the LoI, subject to approval of the authority. PM POSHAN prescribed nutritive value of each meal in terms of calorie and protein to be maintained without failure.”The govt stated that the work order to Iskcon was subject to an ongoing PIL in Calcutta High Court.The move to hand over the mid-day meal scheme for Kolkata schools to Iskcon has been challenged in the HC, with the main points of contention being that the transition will strip the SHGs of their livelihood and deny kids access to eggs.The govt has provided a space in Taratala to the Iskcon Annamrita Food Relief Foundation to set up its mega kitchen. The site at 16 Transport Depot Road is close to the Taratala Brace Bridge.The govt noted that the handover will be done in a phased manner, and the transition for the first set of schools must be completed within five days. The state gave ISKCON a week’s time to formally agree to its terms. Nilanjan Mukherjee, a spokesperson for a self-help group, said, “We have not received any communication from govt on this. Our SHG has been serving around 3,000 students every day across 65 schools in the city, and we always maintain food quality and follow guidelines.”
