A primary school in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district has ended a 25-year practice of serving separate midday meals to Hindu and Muslim students. This discriminatory system, which included distinct kitchens, utensils, and serving areas based on religion, was stopped following an inquiry by the district administration.

Kishoriganj Manmohanpur Primary School, with 72 students, had maintained this separation since the midday meal scheme began in 2000. Despite a shared gas connection, meals were served in separate classrooms. After the probe, a meeting involving teachers, villagers, panchayat members, and district administration officials led to the decision to serve meals together. Now, both Hindu and Muslim cooks will jointly prepare food using the same utensils, and a self-help group will manage the midday meals. Both current and former headmasters confirmed previous unsuccessful attempts to end the practice. Parents, such as Muhammed Sheikh Hussain, welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of unity among children.