Parents of this Tirupur school practice caste-based untouchability and demand TC for their children; boycott breakfast cooked by Dalit woman

Tirupur: In a shocking incident, some people demanded that a child's transfer certificate be issued rather than eating the food cooked by a Scheduled Caste woman in the newly launched TN CM’s breakfast scheme.

Chief Minister M K Stalin's breakfast scheme was extended to schools across Tamil Nadu last week. In this situation, the Tamil Nadu government's breakfast scheme was also launched at the Panchayat Union Primary School at Kalingarayanpalayam in Vallipuram Panchayat near Perumanallur near Avinashi in Tiruppur district. There are 47 students studying in the school.

In this case, Deepa, a Dalit girl had cooked food and served it to the students of the school. A group of parents who came to know about this did not allow the school children to eat food and demanded a transfer certificate and said that they will be enrolled in another school and prevented the children from eating by boycotting breakfast.

The panchayat union administration came to know about the incident and engaged in talks. Uma, who cooks the food, was ignored by a section of people who were not convinced as the government said that she could not be replaced.

Today, while Deepa cooked the food again, 34 school children ate. 13 people have taken leave from school.

When asked about this, Vallipuram panchayat president Murugesan said, "The incident is true. Some protested as they belonged to the same village. Some non-parents also came to know and protested. They have now held talks on this and have sent the children to school.

Today most of the children ate breakfast. This will not happen again. He said proper legal action would be taken by the police department in case of further protests.

When contacted, Deepa, the cook, refused to speak directly or give an interview in connection with the incident and said, "I am going to baniyan company for work after preparing and serving food for the children in the morning.

No one directly bothered me. It was only after others informed me that I came to know about the incident. She requested that adequate security be provided to continue working.

When asked about the incident, Tirupur Block Development Officer Velusamy said, "I immediately went to the school when I came to know about the incident. Perumanallur police, panchayat president and others held talks and created awareness among the villagers.

We have explained and clarified about the atrocities and cases of untouchability. He has assured that such an incident will not happen again.

In 2018, a case was registered under the Prevention of Untouchability (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Connection with an incident in which a cook at a government high school in Thirumalaigoundampalayam in Avinashi threw utensils and abused Pappal for not cooking as she was a Dalit.

It is to be noted that block development officer Meenakshi had obtained a stay order from the Madras High Court and without the trial taking place, the stay period ended on August 5 and she was brought back to the Tirupur court for hearing.