Kolkata: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has withdrawn its decision to separate the seating of students in its hostel dining hall on the basis of their food preferences. Under this decision, there will no longer be separate seating for vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters. Institute director Suman Chakraborty said that as soon as he came to know about this notice, he immediately talked to the higher officials and cancelled it.
'Such signage should be removed immediately'
Chakravarti said, 'There should not be any signage (mark or board) in the dining hall separating students on the basis of their food preferences. We have ordered that such signage be removed immediately, irrespective of whether it is in the dining hall of any hostel.' He further said that an educational institution should not discriminate on the basis of individual food preferences.
Some vegetarian students had complaints.
The matter came to light when a notice was issued on August 16 in the B.R. Ambedkar Hall of Residence, asking students to sit in different places based on vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The notice was issued due to complaints from some vegetarian students, who said that they were facing inconvenience due to students eating non-vegetarian food at the same place.
Resentment spread among hostel students
These students had objected to the smell of food like chicken, fish and mutton and demanded separate seating. After this notice, resentment spread among the hostel students. Many students criticized the move and said that it promoted discrimination. As soon as the news spread, IIT Kharagpur alumni also condemned the decision and supported the students. The issue also gained momentum on social media, after which the institute had to take action.
'Such discrimination should not happen anywhere'
On September 8, the institute issued a new notice to all hostel wardens, which clearly stated that food like vegetarian, non-vegetarian and Jain can be separated only at the level of preparation and distribution of food. But there should be no discrimination for seating in the dining hall. This rule will apply not only to Ambedkar Hall but to all hostels where such a system already exists. Director Chakraborty stressed, 'Such discrimination should not happen anywhere nor can it be maintained.'
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