Not just Kolkata, ISCKON will provide mid-day meal to entire state schools: CM Suvendu
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced a major policy decision to partner with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to manage the entire state's mid-day meal scheme. Under this new public-private partnership, ISKCON will take over the responsibility of preparing and distributing nutritious meals to government school students starting August 1. The initiative will initially roll out across state-run schools in the Kolkata metropolitan region before expanding to all other districts.
During his public address, Chief Minister Adhikari highlighted that ISKCON already successfully operates similar mass-nutrition programs in several other Indian states. The administration aims to leverage this extensive experience to improve the overall quality, hygiene, and nutritional value of meals served to students in Bengal. He emphasized that ensuring healthy dietary standards for young learners remains a top priority for the newly formed state government.
Looking beyond nutritional programs, the Chief Minister indicated plans to expand collaborations with other esteemed socio-spiritual organizations. He stated that the state government is actively designing frameworks to work alongside the Ramakrishna Mission and the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in sectors like education, basic healthcare, and public welfare. The long-term objective of these collaborations is to ensure that essential welfare benefits efficiently reach marginalized sections of society.