Hyderabad: A 13 year old school girl of VIII class had been harassed by principal of school for not wearing socks to school. Principal had given the punishment to the girl, suffering from menstrual cycle, to stand outside principal’s office for hours. Girl had pleaded to authorities that she was in pain but no one had given her relief from her punishment.
The child right activists said that the girl was later summoned by the principal of the reputed private chain in Boduppal and asked to show proof that she was not well. A top criminal lawyer of the country told that the principal asking the girl to do so is a serious case of sexual harassment in itself.
This shocking incident was happened on July 19. The father of girl said to Child Welfare Committee that the girl had gone to the school wearing casual footwear and was stopped at the entrance by the physical education teacher who questioned her on it. Even when the student replied that her socks had not dried due to the incessant rains, the school authorities refused to let her attend class. She was taken to the principal who asked her to stand outside his office for two periods as punishment.
The family and Achyuta Rao of Balala Hakkula Sangham, the child right organization said that the girl was unable to stand for any longer, told officials that she was having her monthly periods and could not endure standing for such a long time. But her plead haven’t noticed by any one. After standing for 45 minutes, the principal allegedly called her in and demanded that she show proof of her condition.
Rao said that he was approached by the girl’s father after the shocked student managed to escape and went home to narrate her ordeal. When the girl’s father met the principal, he was told that the latter could do whatever he wanted.
Meanwhile school officials said that the girl was made to stand only for 20 minutes and that she was counselled to follow the school rules and sent away. “As the school representatives agreed that they made the girl stand, we levied a fine and asked them to pay it in three days,” CWC chairperson V Padmavathi said.
However, Rao said more stringent action must be taken and counselling of teachers was needed to curb child abuse in all forms. Activists said that only a ban on errant school managements could help reduce cases of corporal punishment in the state. Rao also said, “An awareness drive among teachers and school principals must be done to curb this menace or the plight of children will only get worse.”
This incident came to light only after the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Ranga Reddy district, which was investigating the case, imposed a penalty of just Rs 25,000 on the school management for dealing harshly with the child. Activists said they want stronger action on such people.
Bureau Report
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