Noida school stirs row with ‘no non-veg in tiffin’ circular | Noida News – Times of India

NOIDA: A private school has sent parents a circular that cites “health and hygiene, and respect and inclusivity” to request them not to send non-vegetarian food in students‘ lunch boxes.
The circular, sent on Wednesday to parents by Delhi Public School in Sector 132, drew criticism from parents and students for its “interference” with dietary practices and also the logic it gives to discourage one kind of food.
“We are writing to respectfully request that students do not bring non-vegetarian food items to school…,” the circular says.
It cites “two key considerations”. The first – under the subhead ‘Health and Safety’, says that non-vegetarian food may get spoiled “when cooked in the morning for lunchtime consumption” and “can pose serious health risks if not stored and handled properly”.
The second subhead — ‘Inclusivity and Respect’ – underlines that the school “values diversity and promotes a culture of inclusivity” but goes on to add that by “maintaining a vegetarian food environment, all students feel respected and comfortable”.
Parents said they did not understand the connection the circular makes between respect and non-veg food, besides overlooking the fact that any food can go bad when cooked in the morning and consumed late in the day, stored in a lunchbox all the while in hot and humid weather.
“My kid always complains about eating vegetables. The notice mentions ‘respect’ and ‘diversity’. I don’t get how one’s food choice can disrespect others. No one is forcing vegetarians to consume non-vegetarian items, or restricting them in their food choices, then why should such things be imposed on non-vegetarians,” a parent, whose son studies in the primary section of DPS, asked.
Another parent, whose daughter also studies in the primary section, said children spend most of their daytime in school and lunch is the only proper meal they eat in those hours. “Lunch must be rich in nutrients and food value. If they do not eat protein-rich food such as eggs, then how will they get all the nutrients,” she asked.
A third parent opposing the circular said that even vegetarian food can go bad in a few hours. “Restricting non-vegetarian food is uncalled for. Moreover, giving nutritious food to a child is a parent’s decision and schools should not interfere with that,” she said.
But there were some who supported the school and said that “education institutes are like temples for children”.
“Eating non-vegetarian food is not advisable in that. And a majority of students here are vegetarian. That’s why it is a good step,” a parent said. Her 14-year-old son studies in DPS.
On Thursday, some students said they don’t mind eating vegetarian food on some days of the week, but that’s out of choice and not by compulsion. “I respect the concerns of my friends who are vegetarian, and while eating, I maintain a distance from them,” said a student of a senior class at DPS.
Asked about the controversy, DPS principal Supriti Chauhan said the circular was just a “request”.
“The school wants to provide a diverse environment and teach that sharing is caring. During lunchtime, students share their food with their friends. If the food gets stale, then it will affect their health. That’s why the circular was issued,” Chauhan told TOI.
She added that the circular is “not a diktat” and “we issue such a circular every year and this year is nothing new. There is no ban, no directive, no advisory… only a respectful request”.
Manoj Kataria, founder of the Gautam Budh Nagar Parents Welfare Society, said every student comes from a different culture with its own food habits. “All should be welcome to practice their own habits,” he said.
Dr Shreya Goel, a nutritionist, said food is a personal preference, but processed non-vegetarian food tends to spoil faster than other items.
Education department officials in Noida said parents could file a complaint if they objected to the circular.
“In case a parent has an objection and their grievance is not heard by the school, they can take up the matter with the education department. Since the circular simply requests parents and does not issue a mandate regarding food choices, the matter is not highly concerning,” said Dharmveer Singh, district inspector of schools.