By IANS
Patna : The Bihar government has declared that it will not replace a Dalit woman employed to cook mid-day meals in a village school despite protests by upper caste Hindu men.
The government has also ordered a probe into Lalita Devi’s humiliation in Pipri village in Rohtas district.
Lalita Devi, 30, was engaged to prepare mid-day meals at the primary school. A few days ago, upper caste men led by a school official dragged her out of the school kitchen. Her husband was also assaulted.
The upper caste men said their children would not eat food cooked by a Dalit.
The government said Lalita Devi would continue to cook mid-day meals at the school and she will not be replaced by anyone. Government schools provide means to poor students at mid-day to arrest dropouts.
Rohtas administration officials said Sunday that a police complaint was lodged against Tiwari following a government order. The police raided Tiwari’s house but failed to arrest him because he had reportedly absconded.
The government had directed the district administration to inquire into the matter, said M.M. Jha, secretary of the human resource department. He said the government would not tolerate any discrimination regarding cooking of mid-day meals in schools.