Chamarajanagar bans schools from taking students to outside events

The Chamarajanagar district administration has prohibited all government, aided and unaided schools from taking or sending students to religious rituals, fairs, festivals, community programmes or any other public or private events held outside the school, including for meals.

The order, issued by Deputy Commissioner Shreeroopa, follows an alleged incident at Kebbehura village in Chamarajanagar taluk. Students of a government school were taken to a Bandi Utsava organised in the village for lunch, where arrangements had been made to serve food to residents.

According to a note from the district administration, village leaders and members of the School Development and Monitoring Committee had asked the head teacher to send all students to the venue for the meal. The head teacher subsequently took the students to the event.

It was alleged that food was denied to 18 students belonging to the Dalit community. The matter was later reported in the media.

The Deputy Commissioner said the precautionary measures were necessary to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and to ensure the safety, equality and dignity of students, besides maintaining a conducive educational environment free of discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or community.

The circular noted that the government already runs the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in government schools, and that school heads are responsible for ensuring students receive hot and hygienic meals under the scheme.

If taking students outside school premises is unavoidable as part of a special government or educational programme, prior permission must be obtained from the concerned department, and all prescribed safety measures and government regulations must be strictly followed.

The Deputy Commissioner warned that any violation, lapse or negligence in implementing the order would make the concerned officials and school heads directly responsible, with action to be taken against them as per the rules.