Govt schools struggle to meet demand for eggs as prices increase during winter, ETEducation
Hubballi: As the price for eggs increased from Rs 6.5 to Rs 7.5, during winters, the school management and the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) is finding it difficult to continue egg distribution to students in the district.
Govt provides only Rs 6 per egg, which includes transportation and peeling charges. As a result, schools struggled to meet the cost. The 1,070 schools in the district has 1,78,760 students and eggs are distributed to 75% of the students, officials said.
Schools distribute eggs to children under a nutritional initiative by the School Education Department and Azim Premji Foundation. The govt provides eggs for 2 days, while the foundation provides for the remaining 4 days.
As the bananas price had come down, they managed to spend the cost of bananas on eggs, amidst the price hike.
Fakkirayya Hiremath, SDMC president, said they are finding it difficult to provide eggs at Rs 6, fixed by the govt. “The price would increase by at least Rs 2 per egg. The committee has been regularly requesting the govt to revise the price.”
The ISKCON and Adamya Chetana Foundation serve readymade meals to the schools. “Since schools lack facilities to boil the eggs, distributing boiled eggs has also become a challenge for the schools. At least now, the govt should provide materials required to boil eggs in the schools,” Hiremath requested.
Education officer of Pradhan Manthri Poshan Shakthi Nirman (Midday meal), Roopa Purumkar, said that they distributed the midday meals with nutritional food items, eggs and bananas, for 6 days. Most schools have requested the govt to increase the price allocated for eggs.
Suleman Saba, egg shop owner, said that the price of eggs increased from Rs 6.5 to Rs 7.5 in Dec, during winter. “However, the price has come down by 25 paise, two days ago. Likely, the rate of eggs will remain the same this month.”
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