THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director of Public Instruction (DPI), K. V. Mohankumar, has clarified through a circular that it has not issued any circular insisting on a vegetarian menu for noon meal programmes in schools. DPI, while reacting to posts on Wednesday on Facebook alleging that vegetarianism was being implemented through the noon meal programme pointed out that there was no bar on serving milk, egg and meat for the noon meal.
The issue began with DPI publishing sample menus for schools from Monday to Friday which included sambar, avial, erissery and pulissery in the menu. He pointed out that sample menus had clearly mentioned that the schools could serve meat, egg and milk in the menu as these had a high protein and fat content. The sample menu was published as there were complaints that many schools served only one or two curries along with rice during the noon meal. The sample menus were issued to make it clear that at least three curries were served along with the rice.
DPI pointed out that the schools were already providing eggs once a week and milk twice a week apart from the items in the menu. Moreover, Zonal coordinators were given directions to include fish, meat and other special curries along with rice if there were sufficient funds.
