Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 21: Several prominent schools in Bengaluru have begun enforcing strict bans on food delivery apps such as Swiggy and Zomato within their campuses, effectively barring students and staff from ordering food through online platforms on school premises.

The move gained momentum after a school in Banashankari issued a circular to parents announcing the new restriction, with several other leading schools in the city reportedly adopting similar measures.

School managements say the decision has been taken with a focus on safeguarding children’s health, maintaining discipline and ensuring equality among students. They argue that outside-ordered food often contains high levels of oil, salt and preservatives, which can have a detrimental impact on children’s well-being.

A principal from one of the schools explained that disparities in food choices can lead to unintended social comparisons among students. “When one child brings a simple home-cooked meal like pulao and another orders pizza or burgers, it creates unnecessary attraction and a sense of inequality,” the principal noted, adding that such trends can also place additional financial pressure on parents.

Administrators have also raised security concerns, stating that the frequent entry of unknown delivery personnel into school premises could pose safety risks. They further pointed out that handling multiple food parcels during school hours disrupts discipline and interferes with academic schedules.

Parents have been advised that if home cooking is not feasible, they should ensure that food is packed in lunch boxes even if sourced from restaurants, but without relying on delivery services inside campuses.

Significantly, the restriction has also been extended to school staff. Teachers and employees have been asked not to place orders through food delivery apps during working hours, with schools emphasising that this is intended to set a uniform example for students, according to reports.