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West Bengal Withdraws Akshaya Patra School Meal Approval
The West Bengal government had approved Akshaya Patra Foundation to provide school meals in four districts.
About three weeks later, it canceled that approval.
The meals were part of the PM-POSHAN school food program.
The decision became controversial because the planned meals were vegetarian.
Critics said children should continue receiving eggs because eggs provide protein.
The government said eggs could be given separately twice a week.
A senior official said adding eggs made the meals more expensive.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness said it was legally separate from the two foundations involved in meal distribution.
West Bengal withdrew Akshaya Patra Foundation’s approval to provide PM-POSHAN meals in Howrah, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.
The September 11 notification reversed an approval issued on August 21, 2026, roughly three weeks earlier.
The decision followed controversy over vegetarian school meals after International Society for Krishna Consciousness was empanelled to supply meals in Kolkata.
The government later planned to provide eggs separately twice a week, while a senior official said this increased costs.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness said it was legally separate from Annamrita Foundation and Akshaya Patra Foundation, despite a government official describing them as separate but related.
- Who
- The West Bengal government, Akshaya Patra Foundation, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Annamrita Foundation and affected school students.
- What
- The government withdrew Akshaya Patra Foundation’s approval to provide PM-POSHAN midday meals in four districts.
- Where
- Howrah, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur in West Bengal; the wider controversy concerned meals in Kolkata.
- When
- The approval was issued on August 21, 2026, and withdrawn in a notification dated September 11.
- Why
- The withdrawal followed controversy over vegetarian meals and a government official’s claim that separately providing eggs twice a week increased costs.
Government Defense
Critics’ and Organizations’ Objections
Vegetarian meals
Government Defense
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the goal was to provide students good food and that no religious beliefs were being imposed.
Critics’ and Organizations’ Objections
Critics argued that eggs were a better protein source and accused the BJP-led government of promoting vegetarianism in a predominantly non-vegetarian state.
Reason for withdrawal
Government Defense
A senior School Education Department official said separately providing eggs twice a week increased meal costs and contributed to the withdrawal.
Critics’ and Organizations’ Objections
The reports describe criticism of the vegetarian menu but do not provide a direct public response from Akshaya Patra Foundation to the withdrawal.
Relationship among organizations
Government Defense
A government official described International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Annamrita Foundation and Akshaya Patra Foundation as separate but related organizations.
Critics’ and Organizations’ Objections
International Society for Krishna Consciousness said it had no involvement in the meal-distribution work and that its governing structures were legally separate from those of Annamrita Foundation and Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Key facts
- Withdrawal date
- September 11, through a State Education Department notification.
- Original approval
- Memo dated August 21, 2026.
- Affected districts
- Howrah, Purulia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur.
- Meal scheme
- PM-POSHAN, or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman.
- Kolkata meal provider
- Annamrita Foundation had been providing meals to about 500 schools in Kolkata since August.
- Egg provision
- The government planned to provide eggs separately twice a week after criticism of vegetarian meals.
- Court challenge
- A petition was filed in the Calcutta High Court against handing the meal scheme to International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Quotes
Suvendu Adhikari
Chief Minister of West Bengal
“In accordance with the decision taken by the competent authority, I am directed to withdraw the approval of the Akshaya Patra Foundation vide memo No. 284-ES(PMP)/Genl-09/2026 dated 21.08.2026 for providing midday meal under PM-POSHAN in the areas as mentioned in the said Memo. No further action on this may be taken.”
thestatesman.com
indianexpress.com
“The management board and the board of trustees of those two organisations and the management committee of ISKCON are legally completely separate. There is no similarity or mutual involvement between their activities and responsibilities. Therefore, the two can never be considered as the same organisation.”
indianexpress.com
Senior School Education Department official
Anonymous official explaining the withdrawal of the approval
“They were not ready to do such a big thing, and when the government started giving eggs twice a week separately, it increased the cost of midday meals. Therefore, the government was forced to withdraw the order in the four districts.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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