Irregularities in egg & chikki distribution for children: Edu Dept asks schools for daily updates

Bengaluru: The Department of School Education has instructed headmasters to submit daily updates on the distribution of eggs, bananas, and chikkis (peanut snack bars) to schoolchildren via the PM POSHAN website.

This step follows the reports of widespread irregularities in the distribution process for students from Class 1 to 10.

In a program supported by the Azim Premji Foundation (APF), eggs, bananas, and chikkis are distributed six days a week in schools. The state government covers expenses for two days, while APF handles costs for the remaining four days.

However, an evaluation conducted across 367 schools recently uncovered that 66 schools had not distributed eggs as scheduled. In some cases, chikkis were provided instead of bananas for children who do not consume eggs, and these chikkis weighed less than the prescribed weight.

The School Education Department issued notices to 98 officials due to these discrepancies. Notably, Udayavani published a special report on this matter on November 8.