Date:12/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/12/stories/2007091253871500.htm

National

Dalit girls on fast against rotten food

Special Correspondent

PATNA: Dalit schoolgirls are on a hunger strike for three days now in protest against being served rotten food in their residential school in Ara, district headquarters of Bhojpur district.

All the 250 Dalit girls at the Rajkiya Ambedkar Awasiya Balika Vidyalaya are refusing to touch the “worm-infested food.” At least nine of them have fallen sick and have been admitted to the Sadar hospital in Ara.

The students have been protesting for well over two months now against the inhuman treatment being meted out to them. They alleged that the authorities were ignoring their protests because they were poor Dalits.

Television clippings showed the worm-infested rice in the school’s kitchen. A school official admitted that she failed to detect the poor quality rice and pulses and replace them.

Surprisingly, district officials who visited the school on an inspection too did nothing to replace the stock. They said they would submit their report to the higher authorities and hoped that the children would give up their indefinite fast.

The girls have resolved not to relent till their demands are fulfilled.