New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay spurred a new controversy over food-based casteism, a term being used to define segregation between vergetarian and non-vegetarian.
Recently, students in IIT allegedly found a notice on the one of the canteen’s door instructing that only the vegetarians could go in there. “Vegetarians only are allowed to sit here.”
Furiated by the discrimination, students informed the authorities and took it to the Twitter to point out that it is a humiliation.
Even though RTIs and mails for hostel GSec shows that there is no institute policy for food segregation, some individuals have taken it upon themselves to designate certain mess areas as “Vegetarians Only” and forcing other students to leave that area.#casteism #Discrimination pic.twitter.com/uFlB4FnHqi
— APPSC IIT Bombay (@AppscIITb) July 29, 2023
Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), an informal students’ collective from the institute, said, “Even though there is no institute policy for food segregation, some individuals have taken it upon themselves to designate certain mess areas as ‘Vegetarians Only’ and forcing other students to leave that area.”
Following which, the general secretary of the hostel wrote an email to all the residents, clarifying that there is no area designated for those who do not eat meats and all. However, the official also acknowleged that there are reports about the alleged discrimination of students based on their food preferences that will be looked into.
The email mentioned that there are reports of certain mess forcefully being designated as ‘Jain sitting space’ by some individuals that also denies entry to individuals who bring non-vegetarian food to enter.
Students Found it Humiliating
Objecting the alleged segregation, a few students in November last year had filed an RTI to know if the institue has such rules regarding the sit-in arrangement on food preference. To which, the institute answered with a no.
As per media reports, the general secretary in her reply had also assured the appelants that those behind this act will be punished but action was taken.
Sparked Conversation over Vegetarian Suprimacy
Meanwhile, this has started off a debate over elitism attached to people who takes vegetarian diets. A majority of people on social media are calling out the stigma and emphasising that taking the non-vegetarian food does not declare someone pure and superior.
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