Karnataka: Students quit school due to Dalit woman’s appointment as cook

She was appointed as the head cook at the Government Higher Primary School in Kagganahalli village in Kolar. However, Radhamma, a Scheduled Caste, is holding on to her job in the school because she agreed not to cook the food. 

A report in The Indian Express states that many students have left the school since she was appointed as head cook in the school. There were apparently 118 students but when she joined the school in February 2014, a 100 students left. The parents of the 18 students in the school have allowed them to study there on the condition that she not cook the mid-day meal that is served. 

The report quotes Mulbagal Block Education Officer N Devaraj as saying that they have decided to stop the mid-day meal scheme in the village as a result. He is quoted as saying, “Despite the efforts of elected representatives, IAS officers and others in the region, villagers refuse to send their children to the school. We cannot understand their behaviour.”

The school headmaster has been quoted as saying that ‘village politics’ was the reason the school was in this situation. The students who have left the school have joined the government schools in the neighbouring villages. 

Meanwhile, Radhamma has stated to the daily that the students left the school only due to pressure from upper caste groups. The report quotes upper caste members who say they are angry at a Dalit women being appointed to cook the meals.