Right to Food Campaign slams Modi govt’s ‘unscientific’ 10% oil cut in school meals, calls for more nutrition, not less.
safefoodmitra.com · 2025-03-22 11:22:16
The food activists were referring to recent comments made by PM Modi during a ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025’ event and a ‘Mann ki Baat’ episode on the increasing obesity rates among school students in India. The prime minister mentioned an article in The Lancet, which had reported that 12.5 million children between 5 to 19 years were overweight in 2022 as compared to 0.4 million in 1990.
“It is of note that the government vehemently rejects international reports such as the Global Hunger Index but readily quotes obesity statistics from a Lancet report while ignoring compelling data on malnutrition in national surveys,” read the statement of Right to Food Campaign.
The food activists claimed that a large number of children were underweight or stunted and were being ignored.
“It appears like obesity is just an excuse to further cut the already abysmal budgets for the mid-day meal scheme,” the statement said. “The cost norms for school meals are inadequate to provide a balanced, nutritious, and fresh meal to children. Moreover, the budgetary allocations by the Union Government have reduced by 40% in real terms, in the last ten years.