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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Now, caste wars over mid-day meal in UP by Manjari Mishra

Now, caste wars over mid-day meal in UP by Manjari Mishra

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published Published on Jul 31, 2010   modified Modified on Jul 31, 2010


Caste war in UP seems to be assuming different dimensions, proves recent spate of mid-day meal boycott in UP government schools. The two major incidents at Sonbhadra and Kannauj which led to a lunch hour rebellion in more than a dozen schools over a month, were triggered off by a power-play between Dalits and backwards while the `savarnas\' -- in minuscule minority -- were relegated to the role of fringe players.

Investigation carried out by a three-member team from Ambedkar Mahasabha has thrown up quite a few surprises. On June 20, the government school in Ghosra Sonbhadra hit headlines after its students refused to partake lunch prepared by a Dalit cook. Ghosra, the team discovered, was a hamlet with a predominant Kharvar, a Scheduled Tribe, population. There are 70 Kharvar households as against 40 houses belonging to the Chamars.

The break up, says general secretary of AMS Veena Maurya, was Chero (SC) 25, Turia (SC) two, Gond (ST) eight, Agaria (ST) 10 families. The village has only one Baniya and five Yadav families, Maurya said.

The trouble began when the Kharvar kids refused to touch the lunch cooked by Prabhawati, a Chamar by caste. In retaliation, the Chamar group in the school decided to boycott the meal Phoolwati, the Kharwar cook, had prepared, says Maurya. She squarely blamed the parents for polluting the impressionable minds by transferring their age-old prejudices.

Sub-casters within SCs and STs also have their own hierarchy system, says police officer turned social activist Darapuri. So the Pasi or Chamar community will not have any social ties with Valmikis, Khatiks will maintain a distance with Chamars. Unless this issue is sorted out within the SC and ST segment, the larger issue of unteachability and exploitation cannot be tacked, he said.

For instance, in Bhadurpur Manjhganva in Kannauj, food cooked by a Valmiki woman led to public violence when Dhobis, the dominant community, laid a siege to the school. Similarly, in neighbouring Haribhanpur headmaster BS Kushwaha, who shared a meal cooked by a Valmiki to set an example before his students, became an outcaste in Chamar/Pasi dominated village. Even in the affected belt of Auraiyya, Kanpur Dehat, Mahoba, etc., the caste equation is more or less similar.

Incidentally, till three years ago SC/ST cooks were more of exception. A survey by Right to Food Committee in 2007 detailed that out of the 216 schools they examined, the ratio of SC/ST and Muslim cooks was 17%, 3% and 1%, respectively. Rest of the 79% work force hailed from upper castes. Even then MDM strikes were pretty common.

Former chairperson of UP SC/ST Commission Shriram Arun suggests community fine and stringent action against guilty to end the menace. This could serve as effective deterrent and put an end to the evil, he adds.


The Times of India, 31 July, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Now-caste-wars-over-mid-day-meal-in-UP/articleshow/6239047.cms


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