Since December 24, around 60 students of the primary school in Jaitiya village in Etawah have been refusing to accept their mid-day meal cooked by Surajmukhi Jatav, a Dalit. Their parents have demand her removal.

Village pradhan Megh Nath told The Indian Express that the person doing the cooking earlier had left. So he appointed Surajmookhi on December 14.

“All was going well, then since December 24, students have been refusing to eat the food she cooked,” he added. He said some villagers had given the idea to the parents to cause trouble deliberately.

Surajmukhi said the students have refused to eat the food she cooked. “Only around 14 children belonging to the Dalit community, eat.”

Lal Bihari, Chief Development Officer, Etawah, said he had visited the school today “and the issue has been resolved”.

“We have convinced the students and their parents,” he said. Those who were promoting such issues will be identified and punished, he said.