http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-cooks-in-up-schools-upper-castes-protest/126717-37-64.html
Dalit cooks in UP schools, upper castes protest CNN-IBN Posted on Jul 15, 2010 at 10:39 | Updated Jul 15, 2010 at 13:27 Book Now & Get a Lunch Buffet / Spa Massage. Absolutely Free. Hurry! Arzoo.com/Buffet_Offer Ads by Google New Delhi: A well-meaning project by the Mayawati government has resulted in an uproar. Mid-day meals, cooked by Dalit cooks, have resulted in parents from upper castes taking their children out of the school. Parents of the students belonging to the upper castes in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh have withdrawn their wards from the government schools than allowing them to have meals prepared by Dalit cooks. "Upper caste parents are pulling their children out of school saying that they don't want them to eat food cooked by Dalits," says school teacher Virpal Singh. However, appointing Dalit cooks for mid-day meal is an ambitious project of Mayawati's government to tackle the caste discrimination head on. In schools where there are upto 25 students only one Dalit woman will be appointed but in schools where there are upto 100 students one Dalit and a non Dalit cook will be appointed. If the number of students increases, cooks from backward classes will also be appointed. This new rule has been implemented in schools from July and the government has asked for strict measures to ensure that it is a success. "If anybody opposes this rule then FIRs will be lodged and they will be put behind bars," warns Jaykaran Lal Verma, a BSP leader from Shahjahanpur. But now it looks Mayawati's pet project is being defeated with strong opposition from the upper castes in Kannauj to Kanpur, Allahabad and Shahjahanpur.
