The Karnataka government is on course to introduce “satvik” food in school mid-day meals following suggestions from religious leaders who held a meeting with the education minister of the BJP-governed state, evoking protests from school groups and rationalists.

Several seers who attended a round-table on Monday with education minister B.C. Nagesh and former scientist and the Union government’s top educationist, Kasturi Rangan, called on the state government to introduce satvik food and value education based on religious texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Quran and the Bible.

The minister later confirmed that the state would implement the recommendations from the 2023-24 academic year, although an official order has yet to be issued.

Gangadharendhra Saraswati Swami of the Shree Sonia Swarnavalli Mutt in Sirsi attributed “negative” behaviour to “tamasic” or “rajasic” food.

“Children should be provided satvik food since tamasic and rajasic food causes negative behaviour,” he told the meeting, adding that mid-day meals should include milk and ghee.

Satvik food is a purely vegetarian fare without onions, garlic and root vegetables.

While tamasic food consists of meat, fish, garlic, mushrooms, etc, rajasic includes hot spices, black pepper, pickles and vinegar. D. Shashi Kumar, general secretary of the Associated Managements of English Medium Schools in Karnataka that represents over 17,000 private schools, slammed the government for accepting the suggestions made by the religious leaders.

“What moral right do these religious leaders have to suggest satvik food for children? Any decision taken to force any kind of food would be a breach of one’s fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution,” Kumar told The Telegraph on Tuesday.

He questioned the logic of getting the views of religious leaders in deciding on food and moral education.

“Are religious leaders the only people capable of imparting value education when value education is beyond religion? People would question why they should follow religious leaders when some of them are facing cases for misconduct,” Kumar said, alluding to the arrest of seers on charges ranging from corruption to rape.

Kumar reminded the government that any decision forced down on the schools could be challenged in court.

Narendra Nayak, rationalist and medical biochemist who taught at the Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore for over three decades, rubbished the claims on satvik food.

“This so-called satvik food is not supposed to awaken baser instincts. But just see how many religious leaders are in prison because of the very same baser instincts,” Nayak told this newspaper.

“So it’s all nonsense that satvik food can take care of negative behaviour.” Nayak rejected the perception that milk is a logical replacement for animal protein.