Last year, in Amethi, the principal of a primary school was accused of allegedly forming a “separate queue of Dalit children” for midday meal. She faced action, including a case. There was also a case of segregation of utensils used by Dalit students in Mainpuri district
Separate queue and utensils for Dailt students at govt schools ‘have become a way of life’ in parts of UP. Representation pic/AFP
In Uttar Pradesh, it is the schoolchildren who suffer because of the prevailing caste politics. There are innumerable cases of caste-based discrimination against children in government schools. Most of them either go unreported or do not invite any action.
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Last year, in Amethi, the principal of a primary school was accused of allegedly forming a “separate queue of Dalit children” for midday meal. She faced action, including a case. There was also a case of segregation of utensils used by Dalit students in Mainpuri district.
“This has now become a way of life, especially in rural areas. The caste feeling is so dominant now that it is the children who refuse to eat food cooked by a Dalit or sit with children belonging to Dalit castes,” says Ram Prakash Srivastava, a retired schoolteacher in Ballia.
Vinay Kumar, the head of a village in eastern UP, says, “The caste system has gained strong roots and unless the local MLA or MP belongs to a marginalised caste, Dalit children are victimised in schools. Teachers, while beating them or scolding them, use cuss words and caste shame them. I belong to the Dalit community but there is little I can do to protect the children because the local MLA belongs to the upper caste and so do the local officials.”
Sangita, a Std IV student, says the schoolteacher tells her to sit in a separate row in class and she is also asked to sit away from others when the midday meal is served. “Big (read upper caste) kids do not play with me and they also get the food first.”
Radhika Saxena, who works with children from marginalised communities, says the caste discrimination remains a major factor in keeping the kids, especially girls, away from school.
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