Kasaragod: The cost of an egg for each child in Anganwadis in Kerala has been fixed at ₹10, and the price of milk per litre is set at ₹60, including transportation charges. Under the Poshaka Balyam scheme, children are to receive eggs and milk three days a week. These items are directly supplied to the Anganwadi centres.

While rice, eggs, and milk are centrally distributed, vegetables and spices are usually procured by Anganwadi workers using funds from local bodies. Each child is allotted ₹5 for these items, with ₹1 set aside for transportation. However, workers state that when vegetable prices rise and the number of enrolled children drops, this amount becomes insufficient.

The Women and Child Development Department recently updated the food menu for Anganwadi and pre-school children, adding items such as egg biryani or egg pulao, and vegetable pulao. But, workers note that the government supplies Kuruva rice, which is unsuitable for preparing biryani or pulao. Moreover, there is no provision for additional ingredients required for these dishes.

Workers highlight that when eggs are delivered in bulk, spoilage is common, particularly when children are absent. They suggest allowing Anganwadis to source eggs locally to avoid wastage and ensure freshness.

33,120 anganwadis; 2.90 lakh children

Kerala has 33,120 Anganwadis under 258 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) projects, catering to around 2.90 lakh children. To provide each child with three eggs per week for a year (52 weeks), the estimated cost stands at ₹45.24 crore. Similarly, the supply of 125 ml of milk three times a week for the same duration would cost ₹33.93 crore. Milk is distributed via Milma, local dairy cooperatives, Kudumbashree units, and others.

In total, ₹79.17 crore has been earmarked for the project. The Women and Child Development Department had also sought an extra ₹78 lakh as contingency funds for the delivery of eggs and milk, but this request was not sanctioned by the government.