A controversy has erupted in a government school in Karnataka’s Mandya district after eggs were cooked on the premises as part of the mid-day meal scheme. The move has triggered strong opposition from villagers, leading to around 80 of the 120 enrolled students threatening to withdraw from the school.

The school, located near the Veerabhadreshwara Swamy temple, has become the centre of a religious and cultural dispute. Locals argue that cooking eggs close to the temple violates long-standing traditions that prohibit the preparation of non-vegetarian food in the vicinity. Parents have begun requesting Transfer Certificates (TCs) for their children, expressing concern that the practice disrespects their religious beliefs.

“We are not against the government’s scheme, but cooking eggs inside the school goes against our traditions. Earlier, children who did not eat eggs were given bananas or chikki. Why was this changed without informing us?” said one parent.

Villagers claim that a mutual arrangement had been in place for years, where eggs were not cooked but distributed separately. The sudden shift to cooking them on campus has sparked outrage. Parents also said they were not consulted before the change, leading to tensions within the community.

The school’s principal has appealed to parents to consider their children’s education before taking such drastic steps. “We are only following government policy. If even one student asks for eggs, we are required to provide them,” the principal explained.

In response to the growing tensions, Mandya District In-charge Minister Cheluvaraya Swamy has intervened. “We’ve called for a meeting with school officials, the Education Department, and parents. We’ll try to resolve this matter amicably,” he said. The issue has shown  the complex intersection of food policy, religious sentiments, and educational access in rural Karnataka.