Tirupur: Taking a strong stand against caste discrimination, more than 80 members of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam and other parties on Sunday feasted at the home of P Pappal, 42 , the dalit cook of noon meal scheme in a government high school at Thirumalaigoundenpalayam in Tirupur district.Pappal has been facing opposition from non-dalit parents for cooking food for their children studying in the school.The members interacted with Pappal and her family members. Pappal narrated the discrimination and humiliation faced by her in her 12-year-old career as a cook under the noon meal scheme.Papal said, “Many children, including those belonging to non-dalit communities, at Ochampalayam government primary school, near Cheyyur, cried when I informed them about my transfer. But at Thirumalaigoundenpalayam government school, some parents are bringing communal angle into the education.”“I was forced to change schools because of a few non-dalits when I was inducted into the service in 2006,” she said.“Finally, I joined Ochampalayam school. But I have been facing discrimination by the same set of people in my own village. All these years, I hesitated to bring out the issue. But I decided to speak out now and the issue came to light as media highlighted it,” she added.More than 80 members of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, Dalit Viduthalai Katchi and Adi Tamizhar Jananayaga Peravai visited Pappal’s tile-roof home at Thirumalaigoundenpalayam in Kuttagam panchayat.While interacting with Pappal, K Ramakrishnan of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam said, “It is an unfortunate incident. The noon meal scheme, which had brought laurels to the state, showed how to ensure continuity of the downtrodden students in pursuing education.”The scheme was also meant for equality. So, those who were responsible for discrimination against Pappal should be punished, he addedAfter hearing about 30 students of non-dalit parents did not attend the school since Pappal resumed her work at Thirumalaigoundenpalayam school, social activist Dr N Ezhilan said, “Stopping the wards from attending the school for such an issue indicated their casteist mindset.”He said it is important to bring out the stories of other noon meal cooks who have faced similar discrimination. Society should ensure safety of Pappal and her family because anything can happen since she has outspoken about the discrimination, he added.

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