Caste discrimination in Kerala school: Bahujan organizations took out torch rally, said – Shame on you ..!

Six-year-old Dalit child Pranav Sijoy was subjected to caste discrimination in St. Benedict L.P. School, Sleevamala in Idukki district, he was forced by the class teacher to clean the vomit of his sick classmate.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Idukki – Bahujan organizations including Bhim Army, BSP and Cherama Sambava Development Society (CSDS) took out a torch rally from Vattakannipara to Kuthungal Town on Sunday regarding the case of caste discrimination and misbehavior with a Dalit student in Idukki district of Kerala.
The protesters strongly condemned the caste discrimination and exploitation of six-year-old Dalit child Pranav Sijoy in St. Benedict L.P. School, Sleevamala. They demanded strict action against the school administration and teacher Maria involved in this incident.
The protesters called this incident a blot on the education system and society. She said the inhumane treatment meted out to Pranav and the subsequent apathy of the authorities amounted to a gross violation of children’s rights.
Pranav’s mother, Priyanka Soman, told The Mooknayak that on November 13, teacher Maria forcibly asked her son to clean up the vomit of a sick classmate. When Pranav refused, he was pressurised.
Priyanka, who works as a data entry operator in a cooperative bank, lodged complaints with several places, including Childline, the education department, the district magistrate and the deputy superintendent of police (DySP). But even after a month, no concrete action was taken.
“After this incident, my son was scared and refused to go to school,” Priyanka said. “I had to take him out of St Benedict School and admit him to a government school so that he could be safe.”
False allegations of money dispute
Priyanka said the school administration has levelled false allegations against her to divert attention from the truth. She said, “The school management says that I am doing this drama for money, which is absolutely wrong.”
She said that as part of her work, she had opened RD (Recurring Deposit) accounts in her bank three months ago for the school principal and two teachers (including teacher Maria). These accounts used to deposit ?1000 every month, which would become ?75,000 after five years. Priyanka deposited the money she received from the teachers through Google Pay in the bank and gave them receipts. “Now the school administration is twisting it and telling the police that I am asking for more money from them. This is a completely baseless allegation,” she said.
Despite several weeks having passed since the FIR was filed, Priyanka complained that the police had not taken any concrete action in the case. She alleged that the police were deliberately being lax in the case to save the school administration.
Priyanka said, “It is clear from the statements of the children that they were asked to clean up the vomit, which is against the Juvenile Justice Act. (Juvenile Justice Act) is violated, yet the authorities are ignoring caste discrimination and violation of children’s rights. This apathy is encouraging wrongdoers.”
The Bahujan organisations involved in the protest strongly criticised caste discrimination and violation of children’s rights. “It is a shame that a six-year-old child was forced to do such a humiliating act, and yet the administration and officials are busy protecting the culprits,” said a member of the Bhim Army.
The protesters demanded immediate suspension of teacher Maria, legal action against the school management, and intervention of higher authorities in the matter.
Amid growing protests, Priyanka wrote a letter to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) seeking justice. “I want justice for my son. This is not just a case of caste discrimination, it is a question of dignity and safety of every child,” she says. The incident in Idukki has exposed caste discrimination in educational institutions and the apathy of the authorities. Social activists say that if decisive action is not taken in this case, it will further weaken the confidence of marginalised communities.
Courtesy : Hindi News