IIT-Bombay's new rule of eating non-vegetarian meals in separate plates due to 'religious concerns' irks students

IIT-Bombay has made a new rule in its canteen. Non-vegetarian students have been slapped with a rule to eat meat in small sized plastic trays rather than in the regular hostel’s steel plates.

The directive came by a student council who was in charge of the hostel number 11. While the other hostels have the option of non-vegetarian meals, the directions are only issued for the students of hostel number 11.

The regular menu at the IIT-Bombay hostels are normally vegetarian, but students can opt for non-vegetarian meals by paying Rs 40 to Rs 50 per plate. The non-veg items are served on plastic tray plates which are smaller in size than the original steel plates.

The circular for this particular memo was sent via email on January 12 by hostel number 11’s student council. “I am getting concerns from many students over separate plates for non-vegetarian food. Therefore, this is a request to all non-vegetarians to please use only the tray plates meant specially for non-vegetarian dishes. Please do not use the main plates for non-vegetarian food,” states the email.

One of the hostel inmates said, “We've seen other hostels where there are separate tables for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, but it is ironical that this is happening at such an elite institute. This rule has been made by a student body, but authorities must be aware of it. However, until someone raises the issue, officials prefer to remain silent spectators.”

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Another student stated, “Such an illogical and baseless step was taken after a few vegetarian students expressed their discomfort with non-vegetarian food being eaten in the same plates. Forget about the irritation to non-vegetarians, it is a matter of shame for an institution that is recognised globally as top-notch.”

Ritika Verma, general secretary of hostel 11’s student council, said, “This is not a new rule. It is just a reiteration of a regulation that has existed for many years at all the hostels on IIT-B campus. I feel no discrimination here. There have always been separate plates for non-vegetarian food. Yet, a few students were seen eating non-vegetarian food in regular plates.”

She added, “This reminder was sent out after a few students raised religious concerns; the mess team has been generous to make all comfortable. A request issued in a positive approach has been turned into an issue by a few. While there is no opposition from the hostel residents, we see a few former residents reacting negatively on social media.”