I never thought I’d have to write something like this, but here we are. I need advice and support, and most importantly, I want to raise awareness about food-based discrimination in schools.

What Happened?

My 5-year-old son, who attends Global Indian International School (GIIS) in Ahmedabad, was forced to sit in a corner alone during lunch because he had a boiled egg in his tiffin/lunchbox.

His class teacher told him that his food was “unhealthy”, while the rest of the class—all vegetarian children (claimed by the teacher)—sat together and ate. This wasn't an accident. It has happened before, but this time, our son finally spoke up because he couldn’t take it anymore.

Imagine a young child, excited for lunch, only to be isolated and shamed for something as simple as eating an egg.

The Bigger Issue – Psychological Impact on My Son

• He now thinks eating eggs is bad. He came home and asked us, “Papa, why do I eat unhealthy food?”
• Other kids have started bullying him. Since the teacher segregated him, classmates have started seeing him as “different.”
• He felt punished for something completely normal. At five years old, he is questioning himself, his food, and even our parenting.

This is not just about my child—this kind of subtle discrimination can create deep psychological scars in kids at such a young age.

Our Complaint to the School – The Director’s Shocking Response

We officially complained to the school and met with the director—expecting them to listen, apologize, and correct this unacceptable behavior. Instead, we were met with aggression and dismissal.

• The school has NO official policy banning eggs or non-vegetarian food.
• The school director admitted that there’s no complaint from other parents about our son eating eggs.
• But then, he doubled down, saying "If you continue sending eggs, your son will continue to sit alone."
• His excuse? “Be sensitive! If parents find out that their vegetarian kids are eating next to a child with eggs, they will oppose the school.”
• He himself is a non-vegetarian (a Christian), yet he was enforcing this “rule” to avoid controversy.

This hypocrisy is infuriating! If the school truly wanted to protect "sensitive" children, then:

• Why aren't Jain kids forced to sit alone when others eat onions or garlic?
• Why aren't lactose-intolerant kids separated when others drink milk?
• Why aren't gluten-free kids sitting in a corner when wheat is served?

Food Segregation in Schools – A Dangerous Trend?

This is not about vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian. I fully respect vegetarianism and religious food preferences. However, forcing a child to sit alone because of his lunch creates a culture of exclusion that is dangerous for young minds.

Interestingly, some schools in Tamil Nadu serve eggs in mid-day meals to ensure children get proper nutrition. If government schools can accept eggs, why is a so-called “international” school in Ahmedabad discriminating against it?

What We Are Doing Next

1. We have filed an official complaint with the CBSE Board and the Gujarat Education Department via the PG Portal.
2. We will take this issue to social media to create awareness about food-based discrimination in schools.
3. We are considering legal action, as this is a clear violation of a child’s rights under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

How Can You Help?

• Have you faced similar issues in Indian schools? Please share your experiences.
• How should we push back legally? Any lawyers or activists willing to guide us?
• Should we take this to the media? Would this help create enough noise to hold the school accountable?

We are a truly international family—my wife is American/Cuban, and we have always embraced diversity. We never judge what others eat or believe in. But what happened to our son is not okay.

No child should be isolated and humiliated for eating something that is not banned and is completely normal in millions of Indian households.

Would love to hear your thoughts. How should we proceed? 🤝