Row over food segregation at IIT-B mess: ‘Even students eating eggs don’t sit at veg-only tables’
After the decision to earmark six separate tables for vegetarian food was announced in the last week of September, a few students protested by eating non-veg food on those tables and one of them was fined.
3 min read
Some students have complained about the reduced time of night canteen of the same hostel which offered more non-vegetarian food options. (Express photo by Deepak Joshi) Days after a controversy erupted over the “veg-only” space at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, the now famous combined mess of hostels 12, 13 and 14 has become a hot topic of debate. Even as all resident students abide by the rules, significant tension is evident during meal times, according to students.
One of the students said, “Even as there was always informal segregation of veg and non-veg food-eaters in the mess out of mutual respect, with a formal rule and subsequent action against those who protested, there is now a certain amount of fear among students. During breakfast, a time when the mess is the most crowded, students eating eggs do not go and sit on the veg-only tables, even if those are not occupied.”
Some students have complained about the reduced time of night canteen of the same hostels which offered more non-vegetarian food options. The night canteen, which generally starts at 7.30 pm along with mess time, is now only permitted to start business only after mess time is over. Even as this change in timing happened before the “veg-only” space was announced, according to students, “there was no other reason to change timings for night canteen”.
Night canteens are the place for students who miss mess timing (7.30 pm to 9.45 pm). “This canteen has more non-vegetarian food options, especially eggs. It has become a popular spot for students who are into sports. We would get to eat eggs in the evening,” said a student.
It was a preferred option for many as the daily mess menu consists of all-veg food. “Except breakfast when eggs are offered, if students have to eat meat, they have to pay extra for the non-vegetarian dish available on a specific day.”
After the decision to earmark six separate tables for vegetarian food was announced in the last week of September, a few students protested by eating non-veg food on those tables. The mess council imposed a steep fine of Rs 10,000 on one of the protesting students, leading to sharp reactions from inside and outside the campus. While some professors took to social media criticising the action, the students’ wing of a political party warned of agitation if the fine is not withdrawn.
“Students from the Centre for Policy Studies and Department of Humanities and Social Science at IIT Bombay conducted signature campaigns in support. Some professors have written to authorities requesting to withdraw the fine,” said a student.
You May Like
