Kolkata: In less than 24 hours, Bharat Sevashram Sangha has withdrawn permission of non-vegetarian food in their premises that is converted into covid centre.
Talking to Free Press Journal, Swami Dilip Maharaj said that Athena Education and Welfare trust who along with the Bharat Sevashram Sangha converted two floors of the Garia in South Kolkata building into covid centre didn’t seek any permission of the Sangha before allowing non-vegetarian food inside the premises.
“The Athena group didn’t take our permission. Today afternoon after I came to know about the development I have stopped ferrying of fish, eggs and meat inside our campus and instead said to provide milk products,” stated Dilip Maharaj.
Notably, breaking the age old 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 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,” said the sources of Bharat Sevashram Sangha adding that proteins are extremely important for treating the covid patients.
Notably, on May 21, two floors Garia building of Bharat Sevashram Sangha under the supervision of former student Rajib Dutta had opened covid centre with 30 beds out of which 20 beds have 24 hours oxygen support.
The covid centre will be monitored by four nurses, two doctors and 12 volunteers who will serve the covid patients without any fee.
The sources of Bharat Sevashram Sangha also confirmed that the hospital run by Bharat Sevashram 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 seven years non-vegetarian foods are served to treat 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 not known whether the saints took it,” further mentioned the sources.
Incidentally, Swami Pranabananda started Bharat Sevashram Sangha in 1917 and ever since then not just the saints but no one inside the Ashram are allowed to take non-vegetarian food.
