Chennai: The State government on Tuesday clarified that the price of eggs has not affected the distribution of the same to the children at the Anganwadis and nutritious noon meal centres across Tamil Nadu.
Refuting an allegation made by DMK working president M. K. Stalin, that the egg distribution has been affected at the government’s nutritious noon meal centres owing to high prices, State Information Minister Kadambur Raju said, “eggs are being provided to the children as usual. There will be no break in the scheme due to the hike in egg prices.”
He also said that additional funds would be allocated to meet the increased market rates and it would be ensured that eggs are given to students as usual.
Rejecting Mr. Stalin’s allegation as “baseless and far from the truth” State Social Welfare Minister Dr. V. Saroja said the government continues to provide eggs to the beneficiaries at the Anganwadis and nutritious meal centres in schools without any break.
“The Government is closely monitoring the scheme to ensure its successful implementation despite the increase in prices. The contractors have agreed to supply the eggs without causing any hindrance to the scheme; for the contract period they had signed till July 2018,” she said.
Without understanding the nuances of implementing the scheme Mr. Stalin is attempting to seek political mileage from the price issue, she alleged.
The wholesale egg price soared to Rs. 5.16 at Namakkal, a major egg production centre in the country. On Monday, Mr. Stalin alleged that eggs were not being provided to students as part of the nutritious meal programme.
