Munmun Kaur
Published On: December 25, 2021 at 11:55 IST
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on December 24, ordered a probe into the alleged sacking of a Dalit woman appointed as a cook at Champawat school.
On December 13, Sunita Devi, a Dalit woman was appointed as Bhojmata in a Government Inter College, Sukhidhang, in the Champawat district. Recently, a huge controversy sparked as 40 pupils of class 6 to 8 belonging to the upper caste refused to eat midday meals prepared by her, backed by their parents in the boycott. It was also Alleged that Sunita Devi’s appointment was done after overlooking a more deserving candidate Pushpa Bhatt who is also a Brahmin.
Later, Sunita Devi was removed from the position. Prem Singh who is the Principal of Government Inter College, Sukhidhang stated, “We received 11 applications for a bhojanmata post. She was selected for the post on December 5… When the row of boycotting midday meals erupted, our senior officers held an inquiry and canceled her appointment on December 21, saying due process was not followed”. When asked about the due process, he told the sources that the school did not take permission for her appointment from the District Education Officer.
After her removal, she filed a Complaint at the Police outpost in Chalthi against the harassment by the parents and she also termed her removal as Caste discrimination. Although, the Police is yet to register a formal case.
Uttarakhand CM has ordered Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Kumaon, Nilesh Anand Bharne to go to the village and probe into the matter.