Mumbai college divides canteen for girls and boys using rope, faces flak

While the college authorities said the decision was taken keeping in minds safety of girl students, the students and teachers claimed the decision has stemmed from an archaic mindset...

Students, teachers and staff of the Government Polytechnic in Bandra have criticised the management’s decision to segregate boys and girls in the canteen. The college has put up a notice in the canteen demarcating the space for boys and girls, and has the hall divided into two halves using a rope.

The college has put up a notice in the canteen demarcating the space for boys and girls, and has the hall divided into two halves using a rope. (Representation pic/HT)

While the college authorities said the decision was taken keeping in minds safety of girl students, the students and teachers claimed that the decision has stemmed from an archaic mindset.

“Our principal appears to have read some psychology theories to arrive at this decision. Sexual harassment has never been a problem on the campus. The only thing the boys and girls talk about is term work and extra classes,” said a senior teacher.

The college had registered a case against a former student in October for allegedly harassing a girl in the canteen. However, a former security official at the college, who was recently relieved of his duties said several incidents that are portrayed as cases of harassment in the college are nothing but normal interaction between boys and girls. “It’s true that many a times the students create nuisance, but it can’t be called harassment,” he said.

“The girls should get to decide about their appearance.The college days are the ones when we learn about interacting and sharing with different people. College shouldn’t have segregated the genders. Many poor students cannot afford a new uniform in the middle of the course,” he said.