Food security rights activists on Thursday reminded lawmakers of West Singhbhum, which ranks bottom in terms of malnutrition in Jharkhand, about the state government’s “unfulfilled promise” of providing eggs to children in school mid-day meals and anganwadi centres.

“The delegation under the banner of Khadya Suraksha Manch met MLAs of Kharsawan (Dasrath Gagrai), Majhgaon (Niral Purty) and Chakradharpur (Sukhram Oraon) constituencies about the unfulfilled promise of the state government to provide eggs to children every day in mid-day meals and anganwadis and demanded its immediate implementation,” said Sandeep Pradhan, a member of the rights delegation.

As of now, the government doesn’t provide eggs in the meals.

Pradhan added: “The MLAs have assured that they will raise the issue before the government. We will also meet Chaibasa MLA Deepak Birua, also the tribal welfare minister, with our demands.”

The delegation reminded that in the last five years, the Jharkhand government has announced that children of age group 3-6 years will get eggs six days a week in anganwadis, while school students will get eggs five days in mid-day meals.

“But even after five years, these announcements are only mere promises. On one hand, mining worth billions is done from West Singhbhum and there is a district mineral fund of hundreds of crores. On the other hand, the government is unable to provide eggs to children every day by spending just a few crores to end the widespread malnutrition in the district,” the delegation claimed.

It cited the National Family Health Survey 2019-2021 (NFHS-5) data to strengthen the claim of widespread malnutrition among children in the district.

“According to government data (NFHS-5), 62 per cent of children under the age of five in the district are malnourished (low weight according to age) and only 11 per cent of children aged 6-23 months get adequate diet while 75 per cent of children aged 6-59 months are victims of anaemia.”

“Eggs are not only highly nutritious but also tasty and economical. Providing eggs daily in anganwadi and mid-day meals will also improve the attendance of children in the anganwadis and schools,” the delegation said.

They cited media reports that a centralised contract will be arranged for private contractors to provide eggs in anganwadis and felt that this might lead to corruption and cause supply delays, which will directly affect the malnutrition of children.