2015 · GS Paper 4 · Q10 · 20 marks
You are the Sarpanch of a Panchayat. There is a primary school run by the government in your area. Midday meals are provided to the children attending the school. The Headmaster has now appointed a new cook in the school to prepare the meals. However, when it is found that the cook is from Dalit community, almost half of the children belonging to higher castes are not allowed to take meals by their parents. Consequently the attendance in the school falls sharply. This could result in the possibility of discontinuation of midday meal scheme, thereafter of teaching staff and subsequent closing down the school. (a) Discuss some feasible strategies to overcome the conflict and to create right ambience. (b) What should be the responsibilities of different social segments and agencies to create positive social ambience for accepting such changes?
In short
The Sarpanch should keep the Dalit cook, lead by eating the meal with the children, and persuade parents through dialogue and shared supervision. Parents, teachers, leaders, the Gram Sabha and State agencies each share responsibility, backed by the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 267 words
Equality is non-negotiable
Keep the cook, as the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the 2015 Atrocities Act amendment punish untouchability and social boycott.
Lead by example
Eat the meal with children, ward members and respected elders, a Sahbhoj that breaks the taboo faster than any notice.
Dialogue before law
Persuade parents house to house that the boycott risks the scheme and the school.
Shared ownership
Let mothers of all castes supervise the meal through the RTE School Management Committee [scheme] and invite Tithi Bhojan under PM POSHAN [scheme].
Parents
Shed inherited In-Group Bias so that children do not inherit caste prejudice.
Teachers
Teach equality and practise common seating to build Fraternity.
Community leaders
Lend moral authority, as reformers did at Vaikom (1924-25).
Panchayat
Pass a Gram Sabha resolution and run the midday meal social audit.
State agencies
Protect the cook and the scheme, as S.R. Sankaran [officer] championed Dalit welfare.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2015 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.