West Bengal/Kolkata: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has withdrawn the order to provide separate seating arrangements for vegetarian and non-vegetarian students in the hostel canteens. The institute has clarified that no student can be separated on the basis of his food choice.
IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty said on Friday that as soon as the senior administrative officials came to know about this decision, it was immediately canceled. He said, "There is no justification for making students sit separately in the canteen on the basis of their food habits. Orders have been given to remove all such signboards immediately."
It is worth noting that on August 16, a notice was issued in B.R. Ambedkar hostel to make separate seats for vegetarian and non-vegetarian students. After this, students and alumni opposed it and called it divisive.
Amidst the criticism, on September 8, the institute issued a new directive to all hostel superintendents. It said that separate arrangements can be made for vegetarian, non-vegetarian or Jain food at the level of food preparation and serving, but there should be no discrimination in the seating arrangement.
The director of the institute reiterated that such division in the dining halls is not acceptable under any circumstances and this order will be strictly followed in all the hostels.
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