Chamarajanagar: In a concerning case of alleged caste discrimination, several parents in Alur Homma village of Chamarajanagar taluk withdrew their children from a government school reportedly because the mid-day meal was being prepared by a Dalit woman cook.

The government higher primary school in Homma village, which offers classes from 1st to 7th standard, had 21 students enrolled this academic year. Previously, the school employed two cooks — one from the Lingayat community and the other from a Dalit background. According to regulations, schools with fewer than 25 students are allowed only one cook. Due to a drop in student strength, the school retained the Dalit woman, Nanjamma, as per roster rules, and relieved the Lingayat cook.

Following this decision, parents of 12 students reportedly applied for and received Transfer Certificates (TCs) to admit their children to private schools. Applications from eight more parents for TCs are pending, leaving only one student currently attending the school. This development has raised questions about the very survival of the school.

Nanjamma, who has been working as a cook at the school for 27 years, is now the sole cook. The school has only two teachers, and parents have also expressed dissatisfaction over the teaching quality and internal disputes between staff members.

Speaking to Udayavani, Deputy Director of School Education Ramachandraraje Aras said that the department is ready to provide all necessary facilities and additional teachers if needed. He added that the local education officer visited the school and held discussions with parents, who cited lack of quality education — not caste issues — as the reason for shifting their children.

While some villagers claimed that caste bias was behind the parents’ decision, Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police Dr. B.T. Kavitha clarified that during a community meeting with police officials, it became evident that the mid-day meal cook’s caste was not the reason cited by most parents for the transfer.

“Some parents who withdrew their children belong to Dalit communities themselves,” the SP noted.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the challenges faced by public schools in rural Karnataka, including caste sensitivities, teacher availability, and infrastructure concerns.