New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan won't allow preschool students in the state to eat eggs.
According to a report published in Indian Express, Chouhan who is a vegetarian himself, had rejected a proposal to provide egg curry or boiled eggs in anganwadi meals in the tribal areas of Alirajpur, Mandla and Hoshangabad districts.
He said that eggs will never be provided in Madhya Pradesh as long as he is chief minister. “Milk and bananas will be served, but never eggs,".
Health experts propose eggs as a source of protein for students. Some states including Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Orissa serve eggs in preschools.
Indian Express quoted S.K. Mishra, principal secretary to the chief minister, as saying that eggs were a "sentimental issue" with Chouhan.
“It has been a sentimental issue with the CM from day one. Moreover, there are better, more nutritious options available," he said.
However, activists and health experts are unhappy with the decision and say that introducing eggs would have ensured that children got protein-rich food.
