TIRUVANNAMALAI: A cook at a panchayat union primary school beat a Class V student with a broomstick when he asked why eggs were not served with the noon meal at a village near Polur in Tiruvannamalai district.
A video of the cook, identified as Lakshmi, beating the student with a broomstick, taken by a Class IV student using a teacher’s mobile phone, was widely shared on social media platforms.
The Polur police arrested Lakshmi, the cook, and Muniammal, the assistant cook. The two were also suspended. The govt had launched a noon meal scheme in all govt schools, serving eggs daily.
Commissioner (Social Welfare) R Lilly said the department launched an inquiry after the video of the cook assaulting the student was shared on social media. She said Sengunam Kollaimedu Panchayat Union Primary School has 43 students, including girls, two teachers, including the headmaster, a cook, and an assistant cook.
Inquiries revealed that on April 2, a Class V student, aged 10, asked Lakshmi why he was not served an egg with the noon meal. The cook and assistant cook, identified as Muniammal, claimed that three of the 43 boiled eggs were broken while peeling and promised to serve an egg the following day. Lilly said the student scolded the cook and her assistant for not serving eggs.
An enraged Lakshmi grabbed a broomstick and beat the student.
A Class IV student recorded a video of her assaulting the student using the teacher’s mobile phone and shared it with his parents, who are members of the school management committee. The widely shared video prompted Lilly to visit the school and investigate the incident.
Cooks suspended, teacher transferred in noon-meal row
She conducted inquiries with the student, his parents, teachers, cook and assistant cook. “The collector’s personal assistant (noon meal) said the district administration directed the Polur block development officer to suspend the employees (cook and assistant cook) after they admitted to the mistake. The two were served suspension orders on the spot,” said Lilly in an communication to the secretary (Social Welfare and Women Empowerment).
Meanwhile, the Polur police arrested Lakshmi and Muniammal, while the teacher identified as Flora was transferred to Edapiri Panchayat Union Middle School. The duo wasbooked under sections 131 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) of BNS and 75 (punishment for cruelty to child) of the Juvenile Justice Act following a complaint by Flora. The administration has appointed a new cook and an assistant to serve noon meals with eggs.
Social welfare and women empowerment minister P Geetha Jeevan said the ‘Dravidian model govt’ will not tolerate any violence against children. In a post on X on Friday, Jeevan said the cook and assistant cook, who were accused of beating the student, have been suspended. She said police arrested them on Friday.
