Patna: Eggs will return to Friday menus under the Mid Day Meal Scheme in Bihar’s government schools, following a directive from the scheme’s directorate. The decision comes after the easing of restrictions initially imposed due to concerns over avian influenza.
Vinayak Mishra, Director of the Mid Day Meal Scheme, has written to all District Education Officers—including those in Patna—authorising the reintroduction of eggs, which had been temporarily replaced by seasonal fruits such as apples and bananas.
The initial ban followed an advisory issued by the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, which recommended suspending egg distribution in schools to prevent any risk from the bird flu outbreak. On March 11, the Bihar directorate instructed schools to implement this change until conditions improved.
Now, the Animal and Fisheries Resources Department of Bihar has confirmed that boiled eggs, when properly cleaned and prepared, are safe for consumption. As a result, eggs will once again be served to eligible students as part of their nutritional intake.
Since February 15, Bihar’s 68,000 primary schools have been operating under a revised meal plan. According to the new schedule, khichdi is served only on Saturdays, while pulao and kabuli chole, previously offered on Fridays, have been replaced with rice and red gram curry. Non-vegetarian students receive one egg a week, while vegetarians are given fruits.
The updated Mid Day Meal Scheme aims to maintain dietary balance and improve the nutritional health of schoolchildren across the state.
