Non-vegetarians at IIT-Bombay asked to use separate plates

An email asking Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) students to use separate plates for non-vegetarian food has sparked a controversy on the campus. The email, sent on January 12, requests non-vegetarian students to not use "main plates" in the hostel mess.

The email was sent by administration of hostel 11 mess. The request came after several vegetarian students complained about the mix-up of plates. 

“I am getting concerns from many students over separate plates for non-veg. Therefore, this is a request from all non-veg eater's that please use only the tray type plates, meant specially for non-veg dishes, for eating non-veg dinner (sic)," the email, signed by H-11 Mess Team, said. "Please do not use the main plates for non-veg. Hope you will follow this." 

The Hindustan Times reported that the mess council of the hostel said that email was only sent to reiterate a rule which was already in place.

“For years, non-vegetarian food has been served in a separate plate and we only asked students to maintain the rule. This was not meant to offend anyone,” said a student.

Several students took to social media to raise their concerns against the rule and are also holding a meeting today to discuss the matter.