Seperate Meals based on Religion : At Kishoriganj Manmohanpur Primary School, located in Purbasthali I block, meals are prepared by two separate cooks. The school uses separate utensils and kitchens, though on a single gas connection, and meals are served to students in separate classrooms based on their religion.
The school’s present authorities and cooks claim the arrangement has been in place since 2000, when the midday meal scheme was introduced. The school has 72 students — 29 Muslims and 43 Hindus. Once the issue came to the attention of the district administration, they ordered a probe, and the headmaster called a meeting of parents on Tuesday to address the situation.
“We have sent an enquiry team to the school. Action will be taken based on the report,” said Ayesha Rani, District Magistrate of Purba Bardhaman. Headmaster Tapas Ghosh said: “The students study together, sit in the same classroom, but the food is cooked and served separately. This has been the practice for years. I joined the school a year ago. I tried to intervene but failed.”
