In a case of discrimination on the lines of caste, a Dalit woman, who was preparing midday meal (MDM) in a Government-run primary school, was disengaged from the job.
The incident happened in Garadpur block education circle. Poverty-stricken Pratima Behera, wife of a visually-impaired person, was engaged as a cook at Kosida Primary School under Bantala panchayat in Garadapur block. Since last several years, she was doing her job.
But in past few months, she was allegedly restricted by headmistress Swarnaprava Mishra to prepare the meal as she belonged to a Dalit community.
According to Behera, the school headmistress and the assistant teacher had hatched a plan to drive her out from the school by blaming her that she had not been preparing hygienic meal for the students .Most of the time, the teachers of the school allegedly managed to add soil, salt and chilly powder in the prepared meal when she was absent.
The headmistress allegedly tortured her by giving casteist remarks umpteen times as she denied to provide money to her by selling MDM rice. So in order to take revenge, the headmistress by making an unholy nexus with SMC (School Managing Committe) members managed to drive her out from her job, she complained. Even, they arranged a cook in her place, said Behera.
On October 5 last, Behera approached the district Collector by filing a complaint in this regard at the grievance cell that was held at the district collectorate.
According to headmistress Swarnaprabha Mishra, Behera came to the school without cleaning herself and prepared meal in an unhygienic condition. She used to tie goat in the school window and most of the time the goat used to devour the MDM from the students’ plates.
Several times she was told to mend her but without any avail. She disengaged her after getting nod from the school management committee (SMC).
When contacted, Additional Block Education Officer Bijay Kumar Nath stated that due to ongoing quarrel between the cook and the villagers, she was not preparing meal.