Kolka ta ash ram breaks tradition, serves non-veg food

In less than 24 hours, Bharat Sevashram Sangha withdraws permission of nonvegetarian food in their premises that is converted into Covid centre.

Talking to FPJ, Swami Dilip Maharaj said Athena Education and Welfare trust, who along with the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, converted 2 floors of the Garia in South Kolkata building into Covid centre didn’t seek any permission of the Sangha before allowing non-vegetarian food on the premises.

“The Athena group didn’t take our permission. Today afternoon after I came to know about the development I stopped ferrying of fish, eggs and meat on the campus and instead said to serve milk products,” said he.

Notably, breaking the ageold tradition of 104 years, non-vegetarian food was seen entering the premises of Bharat Sevashram Sangha.

“The training centre of Garia building has been transformed into a Covid zone and for the patients’ non-vegetarian foods are allowed. The main motto of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha is to serve people, and to cater people the tradition was broken. The saints are not allowed to eat them,” the Sangha sources said, adding proteins are extremely important for treating the patients.

Notably, on May 21, 2 floors in Garia building of the Sangha under the supervision of former student Rajib Dutta had opened Covid centre with 30 beds, of which 20 have 24-hour oxygen support.

The Covid centre will be monitored by 4 nurses, 2 doctors and 12 volunteers, who will serve the Covid patients without any fee.

The sources confirmed the hospital run by Sangha at Joka also serves non-vegetarian foods for the patients.

“The hospital is 15 years old and after the requests from the doctors for almost 7 years non-veg foods are served to the patients. Several saints who were affected by Covid and were admitted in MR Bangur hospital were advised by the doctors to eat fish and egg meal though it is unknown if they consumed it,” said the sources.

Ever since Swami Pranabananda started Bharat Sevashram Sangha in 1917 not just saints but no one inside the ashram is allowed to eat non-veg food.