KOLKATA, July 29 -- West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said the government will implement a pilot project in Kolkata under which International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) would serve vegetarian food in schools in midday meals from August 1, eggs would separately be served by Self Help Groups (SHGs).

The move, inspired by the practice in Odisha, is expected to address concerns that the government would impose vegetarianism on schoolchildren by contracting ISKCON to supply mid-day meals. The organisation, which runs temples and institutions across the globe, promotes strict vegetarianism.

"A pilot project will be launched from August 1 in which ISKCON will provide pure vegetarian food in mid-day meals ...