NCERT says grade 6 Kannada textbook does not promote vegetarianism

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a clarification on Thursday (June 25) following concerns raised in sections of the media over the title and content of the Grade 6 Kannada R3 textbook, stating that both the name of the book and its treatment of food habits are consistent with its educational approach.

NCERT explains textbook title

Addressing questions over the textbook's title, NCERT said the book has been named "Krishna" after the Krishna River, one of Karnataka's major rivers, as part of a broader practice of naming language textbooks after rivers across India.

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"It is to be noted that the Hindi textbook has been named as 'Ganga', the English textbook has been named as 'Kaveri', and the Urdu textbook has been named as 'Jamuna' (Yamuna). Similarly, the Kannada textbook has been named as 'Krishna'," the council said.

Emphasis on NEP

According to NCERT, the naming convention reflects the emphasis placed by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 on cultural relevance and local contexts.

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"This approach is appropriate from a localised and cultural perspective, particularly in view of the emphasis laid in NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 on rootedness, cultural connect, and meaningful contexts for learners," it added.

River-based naming practice

Responding to concerns regarding references to food habits in the textbook, NCERT stated that the discussion is centred on balanced nutrition and appears in Chapter 6, titled ‘Health is Wealth’.

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"It is clearly mentioned in the introductory note of the chapter 'Health is Wealth' that for good health, a balanced diet, exercise and cleanliness are essential," NCERT said.

The chapter, according to the council, explains the importance of including foods such as milk, fruits, vegetables and green leafy vegetables in a daily diet. It also noted that an illustration on page 63 contains both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items and includes examples of traditional foods from different states.

Clarification on food content

Rejecting claims that the textbook promotes vegetarianism, NCERT said, "Nowhere in the textbook is vegetarianism explained or justified, nor is non-vegetarian food opposed. The purpose of the chapter is to create awareness about healthy food items."

Reiterating its position, the council said it remains committed to providing quality educational material and welcomes "suggestions and constructive criticism from all stakeholders" to further improve its textbooks in line with NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023.