📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Abha S Pradhan
Education
Odisha colleges instructed to cut cooking oil, drop puris, vadas, bondas
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 29 Aug 2026, 12:48 PM
👁 4
The state’s higher‑education department has directed college messes to reduce cooking oil usage and stop serving deep‑fried items such as puris, vadas and bondas.
The Odisha Higher Education Department issued a circular to all government‑run colleges urging mess managers to limit the quantity of cooking oil used in their kitchens. The directive specifically asks institutions to discontinue serving popular deep‑fried snacks such as puris, vadas and bondas, which are considered high‑calorie and oil‑intensive.
Officials say the move aims to promote healthier eating habits among students and curb rising expenses on kitchen supplies. The department has also asked colleges to explore alternative cooking methods, including steaming and grilling, to maintain nutritional standards without compromising taste.
The circular, dated early August, requests each college to submit a compliance report within a month. Non‑compliance may lead to administrative action, according to the department’s guidelines.
Student unions have expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the health focus while others worry about the impact on traditional campus fare. The department has assured that balanced meals will continue to be provided through revised menus.
The policy reflects a broader trend in Indian educational institutions to address nutrition and cost concerns in campus catering.
Officials say the move aims to promote healthier eating habits among students and curb rising expenses on kitchen supplies. The department has also asked colleges to explore alternative cooking methods, including steaming and grilling, to maintain nutritional standards without compromising taste.
The circular, dated early August, requests each college to submit a compliance report within a month. Non‑compliance may lead to administrative action, according to the department’s guidelines.
Student unions have expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the health focus while others worry about the impact on traditional campus fare. The department has assured that balanced meals will continue to be provided through revised menus.
The policy reflects a broader trend in Indian educational institutions to address nutrition and cost concerns in campus catering.