MP Govt introduces eggs in mid-day meal scheme, BJP alleges conspiracy

There has been a new revolution in the mid-day meals introduced by the Anganwadis in Madhya Pradesh as they have included eggs in the new menu to end the problem of malnutrition in the State. The Women and Child Development Minister, Imarti Devi, is the woman behind this change in the food patterns of the children in the State. She while speaking to ANI said that a scheme on similar lines was prepared by the State during the last term but the previous government failed to implement it.  

Imarti Devi on new scheme 

Speaking about the new Mid-day meal scheme, Imarti Devi said, “This is our new scheme. Eggs will be provided to children in the midday meal offered to children in the Anganwadis from November. All we care about is ending malnutrition and ensuring that our children are taken care of. We have taken several initiatives and introduced various schemes for the welfare of children in the state, be it 313 Anganwadis, eggs in mid-day meal or the new bus service to take care of children when their parents go to work”. When asked about the opposition’s objection to the new scheme, Imarti Devi added that "We don't care about the opposition to this scheme. All we care about is that the children get the nutrition they need." 

Read | Shiv Sena unyielding on 50:50 after BJP's 13-26 cabinet offer: Sources

Opposition’s view on mid-day meal scheme 

The opposition, while talking about the scheme, raised their concerns about vegetarian children in the State. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Rameshwar Sharma, said, “There is no question of objecting to any scheme of the state government. All we are saying is that vegetarian children also come to these Anganwadis and that separate arrangement should be made for them as well," he said. Apart from this, Sharma went ahead and said that it is the Kamal Nath’s government in the State that is “malnourished”.  

Read | Shiv Sena man and 2 others booked for defamatory poster against BJP

Another member of the opposition and BJP spokesperson Rahul Kothari claimed that there is a conspiracy behind Congress's government decision to introduce this scheme. He said, “BJP government also took several key initiatives to end malnutrition in the State and we also won several international awards for the same. We think this decision by the government is a part of a larger conspiracy. If an attempt is made to harm the religious culture of the country, we will not accept it. We had also prevented the State Government's attempt to sell chicken and milk next to each other. The government should work as per the culture in the country”. 

Read | Assembly by-polls in West Bengal litmus test for BJP, TMC

Read | BJP minister sings Hindi song on 'strange bond' with Shiv Sena