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West Bengal School Ends Separate Midday Meals for Hindu and Muslim Students

Following a district probe that led to a parents’ meeting the school merged its kitchens into a single facility

Overview

  • The midday meal scheme at Kishoriganj Manmohanpur Primary School had used two cooks, separate utensils and divided kitchen spaces since 2000 to serve Hindu and Muslim pupils apart
  • District Magistrate Ayesha Rani dispatched an enquiry team after learning of the practice and said action would follow its report
  • On June 25 local officials, police and parents agreed to end the segregation and for the first time in years meals were cooked and served from the same utensils
  • Headmaster Tapas Ghosh, who previously attempted to unify the kitchens, said administrative backing cleared obstacles posed by a segment of guardians’ demands
  • The incident prompted public exchanges between BJP and Trinamool Congress leaders accusing each other of fomenting communal tensions over school policy