Now they want to break Akshaya Patra

Yudhisthira, saddened by the fact that he was unable to feed the sages during the Pandavas' vanavasa, prayed to Surya.  

Surya appeared before Yudhisthira and presented him with the Akshaya Patra: "This vessel will provide an inexhaustible supply of food every day..."

The Mahabharata

'Secularists' are at it again: they now want to break the great Bottomless Vessel that is Akshaya Patra, a gargantuan NGO endeavour that provides daily nourishment to 1.76 million children in 50,000 schools across 13 states of India. 

Akshaya Patra, run by ISKCON, provides satvik food that does not include root vegetables and non-vegetarian fare.  Already one state government in the South has terminated its contract with Akshaya Patra for not providing eggs in its mid-day meals.  Now another southern state government is up in arms over the fact that Akshaya Patra does not include onion and garlic in its meals.  Yes, seriously. 

The Akshaya Patra is the world's largest school mid-day meal program.  National Geographic has made a documentary on the hygienic and efficient manner in which meals are prepared everyday in Akshaya Patra's kitchens and delivered to schools in time for the lunch break.  

But the state governments are not satisfied.  Neither do these state governments provide quality meals, nor do they let a successful scheme continue.  They are doing what they are best at: making a meal of a successful program; just like they did with ICDS.  Now its the turn of mid-day meal scheme.  

If these state governments are so bothered by the "lack of nutritional value", in that the Akshaya Patra meals do not include eggs, onions and garlic, why don't they provide these "essential nutrients" on their own?  That is, in addition to what Akshaya Patra is providing, and to those children who want to eat these food items.  

Even better, these state governments can infinitesimally enhance the nutritional value of school mid-day meals by investing in raising, killing and distributing animal meat such as chicken, mutton, fish, seafood, venison and bacon.  And even beef, why not?

If you thought the state governments were meddlesome, wait till you hear what a 'doctor' from 'Right to Food' campaign had to say about Akshaya Patra.  According to her, Akshaya Patra is run by a Brahmin organization that misleads people into believing that non-vegetarianism is bad.  

She believes that Brahmins are behind the evil public policies enacted in India.  She says they hamper the development of the country with their unscientific practices.  She welcomes the termination of contract with Akshaya Patra in one state, and goes on to suggest that "Brahmins should be actively taken out of certain key spaces."

Say what, lady?  Brahmins exterminated?  Now, why does this sound familiar...?  Ah yes... WW2, Germany, Jews, Holocaust... yes, now I remember.

Perhaps the said 'doctor' belongs less to 'Right to Food' than to 'Right to Convert'?

Funny, she does not find what missionaries from her own religion are doing to the country objectionable.  How about stopping preaching faith in missionary schools and colleges?  How about giving up the practice of thrusting faith-healing prayers on hapless patients and their relatives in missionary hospitals?  How about not reaching out to the poor with the ostensible aim of providing healthcare, when the actual aim is to proselytize? 

[P.S.: I do not condone the beef-ban.  I believe it should not exist; governments should not be telling people what they can eat or not eat.  But personally, I am a believer in ahimsa and vegetarianism.  And I have busted the myth that vegetarian diet is not nutritious in this article.]

What's disgusting in this whole affair is that the shortsighted state government officials are heeding the advice given them by breaking-India forces such as the Right to Food 'doctor'.  As a result, India is about to lose yet another wonderful initiative that is worth its weight in gold.

So, here's hoping that Akshaya Patra continues to grow, and goes on to cover all the schools across India.  

References: 
https://jayarama.wordpress.com/2010/07/18/pandavas-receive-the-gift-of-akshaya-patra/
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/perspective/physician-heal-thyself-711297.html
https://www.opindia.com/2018/12/activist-opposing-akshaya-patras-mid-day-meal-contract-thinks-brahmins-obstruct-indias-development/?fbclid=IwAR03lCj57M__Znd2kG-fi8Q6CFA3abLZsUHMp1UJcag9WUi9kFgWztauIqU

Image source: 
https://www.udayavani.com/english/news/state/142987/%E2%80%8Bakshaya-patra-initiative-aims-feed-5-mn-children-year