In a major step toward reinforcing secular values in education, Kishoriganj-Manmohanpur Primary School in Purbasthali Block-I, East Burdwan, has finally ended its long-standing practice of serving mid-day meals separately to Hindu and Muslim students. This change comes after nearly 20 years of religious segregation in cooking and dining, brought to an end following administrative intervention.
The segregation exercise ended two days after this news was carried out by this news platform.

Located in Nasratpur Panchayat, the school has 72 students—from pre-primary to class five—and four teachers. Until recently, meals were prepared by two cooks from different communities—Sonali Majumdar and Geno Bibi—on separate gas stoves connected to the same cylinder. Students were also served in separate utensils and dined in divided spaces. According to sources, 43 Hindu and 29 Muslim students were routinely split in this manner despite learning together in the same classrooms.

The discriminatory system was flagged by Headmaster Tapas Ghosh, who joined the school a year ago. He raised concerns about the logistical complexity and financial burden of running two kitchens for one student body. His concerns led to swift action from the district administration, which called for a meeting with school staff, panchayat representatives, and education officials.

One kitchen, one meal for all

A consensus was reached to end the segregation and introduce a unified cooking system, as is standard in all other schools across the state. Both cooks now work together to prepare meals for all students. The shift has been implemented smoothly and is being monitored by authorities.

District Magistrate Ayesha Rani confirmed the resolution, stating, “The situation at the school has been normalised. The administration is actively monitoring it to ensure no recurrence of such practices.”

Headmaster Ghosh added, “Cooking will now happen in one place for all students. I’m glad the community has largely accepted this change, though some minor resistance remains.”

Shock and resolve from panchayat leaders

Nasratpur Panchayat Pradhan Kanan Barman expressed his dismay: “We were unaware of this practice. We’ve now made it clear that such communal divisions among children are unacceptable. They are the future of this country.”

Purbasthali Block-I Panchayat Samiti President Dilip Mallick condemned the practice, saying, “This is shameful in a state that reveres Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. We must ensure that such divisive practices never resurface.”