Noida school frowns on non-veg food! Cannot control eating habits, contend parents

New Delhi: Days after a circular issued by Delhi Public School (DPS), Gautam Buddh Nagar, sparked controversy by requesting students not to bring nonvegetarian food items to school, a few parents have said that they will meet with the school administration to discuss the matter.

“The school cannot control the food habits of students. Today, they are asking students not to bring non-veg food to school; tomorrow, they may demand something else. We will meet with the school administration and ask them to withdraw this,” a concerned parent said, reports The Print.

During a parent-teacher meeting held a fortnight ago, a few parents had raised concerns about students bringing non-veg food to school, which may have led to the decision.

“I am one of the several parents who raised this concern because our children can’t differentiate between veg and non-veg when they eat together,” said.

The circular issued by DPS Gautam Buddh Nagar asking students not to bring nonveg food items surfaced on social media Wednesday. “We are writing to respectfully request that students not bring non-vegetarian food items to school,” it read.

The school said it made the request based on two considerations: health and safety, and inclusivity and respect. “Non-vegetarian food, when cooked in the morning for lunchtime consumption, can pose serious health risks if not stored and handled properly, and we prioritise our students’ well-being,” the circular stated.

Supriti Chauhan, principal of DPS Gautam Buddh Nagar, told ThePrint in an email response that the circular remains a “respectful request” and not a “directive or ban”.

“The circular was sent in response to a few incidents where students felt uncomfortable after consuming egg sandwiches and chicken-based items brought from their homes,” she said.

One parent expressed concern over the added pressure of surveillance on their children.

“I was shocked after seeing the message. Then I started receiving calls from other parents. We were all discussing whether they were going to check our children’s lunch boxes. How are they planning to implement this order?” asked the parent, whose son studies in Class 8.

Another parent said they are concerned about the dietary environment in school as non-veg “smells bad”. (PTI)