ISKCON rubbishes social media posts on new mid-day meal menu for govt schools in Kolkata
Kolkata, June 24
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which the West Bengal government has decided to engage in providing cooked mid-day meals in state-run and state-aided schools within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation limits, has issued a statement cautioning people about the social media being flooded with fake posts detailing the menu to be provided by the society.
Countering the posts, the vice-president and spokesman of ISKCON, Kolkata, Radharamn Das issued a social media statement alerting people not to be misled by such social media posts.
In his social media statement, Das attached such misleading posts about the proposed mid-day meal menu to be served by ISKCON to make people aware that those posts were imaginary and totally misleading.
The said misleading social media post, which Das had attached, had provided a day-wise menu chart, according to which the items lack nutritious ingredients.
"It has come to my notice that some people are sharing the following proposed menu for the midday meal in Kolkata. However, I would like to clarify that no such menu has been finalised, and this list has not been issued by us," said Das in his statement.
Claiming that once the menu is finalised, ISKCON would make an official announcement on this count, Das had also appealed to people to refrain from such incorrect and misleading information.
To recall, the state finance minister, Swapan Dasgupta, while presenting the state budget proposals for the financial year 2026-27 in the West Bengal Assembly on June 22, announced the decision of engaging ISKCON in providing cooked mid-day meals in state-run and state-aided schools within the KMC limits.
Dasgupta said that the initiative had been mooted to ensure that only nutritious cooked mid-day meals are served in state-run and state-aided schools within the KMC area. As per the agreement between the state government and ISKCON, while the state government will pay a paltry amount to ISKCON on this count, the remaining expenses would be borne by the society.
However, the announcement attracted strong criticism from opposition parties and a section of society who claimed that the decision was aimed at influencing the food habits of the schoolchildren.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, why is there so much opposition? ISKCON has been serving nutritious meals in temples for years. If it improves the quality of mid-day meals, I say give it a chance. But yes, let the menu be transparent and not just puri-sabzi every day.
The opposition parties are just making noise. This is a government school meal program, not a religious conversion. ISKCON is a reputable organisation. But the government should also ensure no proselytisation happens in schools. Nutritious food is the priority.
I am Hindu myself, but why does religious organisation need to be involved in state school meals? Let the education department handle it. The budget should focus on better infrastructure and teachers, not outsourcing to NGOs. This seems unnecessary. 🤔
Interesting move by the West Bengal government. I hope they ensure the meals are vegetarian but also nutritious and inclusive for all children, regardless of religion. The fake news about the menu is just people trying to create controversy where there is none.
The fake menu included items like 'khichdi' and 'paratha', which are actually fine for kids. But the fuss is unnecessary. Let ISKCON release the final menu and then judge. They run the famous 'Govinda's' restaurants, so they know how to serve good food. 😊
K Karan T