Vegetarian food a healthier alternative: KGMU VC defends ban on non-veg dishes in hostel messes

Lucknow: King George’s Medical University (KGMU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Soniya Nityanand, on Wednesday endorsed KGMU’s decision to prohibit the cooking and serving of non-vegetarian food in all hostel messes and canteens with immediate effect, calling it a “positive suggestion” and claimed that vegetarian alternatives are “healthier.”

The move follows a recent inspection of the campus by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, who also serves as the Chancellor of state universities.

Speaking to reporters, Prof. Nityanand said: “I take it positively…it is a very valuable suggestion because given the searing heat in our country, it is very difficult to maintain hygiene for non-veg foods, especially when made at a mass-scale.”

“Now the entire world is opting for vegetarian food because it is a healthier option. With this, the chances of developing gastrointestinal cancers, especially colon cancers, reduce significantly. Therefore, the suggestion is an extremely positive one for the students,” she added.

She further said that when healthier options are available in the country, then why should one eat non-vegetarian foods?

“Moreover, the keeping quality of vegetarian food in summers is better, that is also an added advantage,” KGMU Vice Chancellor said.

The KGMU administration has clarified that while non-vegetarian food will no longer be prepared or served in hostel messes and canteens, students will continue to have the freedom to order such food from outside or cook it themselves according to their personal preferences.

According to the university administration, the decision was taken after Governor Patel expressed concerns over hygiene standards at facilities where non-vegetarian food was being prepared during her visit to the campus.

Meanwhile, several sants on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the university.

Sant Satendra Das Vedant Ji Maharaj welcomed the decision and expressed hope that similar measures would be adopted by educational institutions across the country.

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Governor. I hope that this decision is implemented not only in Lucknow but across the entire country. Wherever hostels are being run, such a ban should be enforced,” he told IANS.

Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das also praised the university’s decision, saying it was a positive initiative and expressing the view that consuming non-vegetarian food does not necessarily contribute to better health or physical strength.

IANS