IIT-Madras removes posters segregating students on basis of food choices

Chennai: After a section of students took offence to the segregation of students on the basis of their food choices at a mess in IIT Madras, the Mess Monitoring Committee (MMC) of the institute has removed the posters on Friday.

It also clarified to students that it was "undertaken by the caterer in their own volition" and was "not a directive from the MMC". 

The Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (APSC), a student body of the Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) has raised an objection to separate entrances and washbasins to non-vegetarian and vegetarian students in RRC mess at Himalaya hostel in the institute.

They also alleged that it amounts to “caste discrimination” and practising “untouchability”.

The APSC's post and images of the posters indicating separate entrance and washbasins to vegetarian and non-vegetarian students went viral on social media on Friday.  

In a mail to IIT-M students, the hostel affairs secretary Nihal K said the posters have been removed from the facility as soon as the error pointed out.

“It has been brought to attention that a certain poster detailing an area of wash basin to be earmarked for vegetarian students was found in RRC mess, Himalaya hoster. The caterer has been instructed to remove the poster immediately upon its discovery by the Mess Monitoring Committee (MMC)," he said in the mail.

He also apologized to students for any inconveniences caused and promised action would be taken against the caterer after the inquiry.

On the concerns raised on two entrances to the mess, he said, “The entrances have been provided with that way so as to make the passage to each counter easier, and not to restrict passage from one to another, or differentiate students in any capacity.”

Denying the discrimination allegations, the IIT Madras officials also said the posters were put out by the caterer. “No student will be discriminated on basis of their food preferences,” they said.

In the normal days, the institution will have nine fully functional messes, while one of them used to serve exclusively vegetarian food. Since many students vacated the hostels for holidays, the vegetarian mess is closed and only three messes are open currently.

Earlier, students said they found the segregation as odd and uncomfortable. “There was no such segregation during the normal working days at the institution. They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. 

They felt there should not be any separation on basis of one’s food choices.