By Education And Careers Desk,News18,Sukanya Nandy

Copyright news18

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has retracted a notice that had mandated separate seating arrangements in hostel dining halls based on vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences, an official stated.
Institute director Suman Chakraborty revealed that the notice regarding seating segregation at B R Ambedkar Hall was issued without higher authorities’ approval. Upon discovering the decision, it was immediately scrapped following consultations with other senior officials.
“The moment he came to know about the decision, it was scrapped following immediate consultation with others in the higher authority of the institute. There should not be any such signage to segregate students assembled at the dining hall based on their culinary choice. We have ordered that such signage be removed in whichever dining hall it remains with immediate effect,” Chakraborty said.
Chakraborty emphasised that an academic institution should not enforce segregation based on individual food preferences.
On August 16, residents of B R Ambedkar Hall were notified to sit in designated areas for vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. This move sparked criticism among boarders and alumni, who condemned it for promoting division.
On September 8, a new notice directed all hall wardens that any segregation of mess food should be limited to preparation and distribution levels, not seating arrangements in the dining hall.
The initial notice on August 16 was in response to complaints from vegetarian boarders about the inconvenience caused by non-vegetarian food being consumed at the same tables. The directive for signage at Ambedkar Hall dining tables will be enforced in other hostel dining halls immediately if such practices are observed.
The director reaffirmed that there should be no segregation based on food preferences in principle.
Meanwhile, IIT Kharagpur has signed an agreement with the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Dhanbad, to organise training in technology, internships for students, seminars, conferences and various competitive technology-based workshops. Through the MoU, IIT Kharagpur and Mines Safety will work together to promote sustainable and safe practices in the mining industry.