A fact-finding report of a Tindivanam-based non-governmental organisation has blamed serious negligence on the part of the School Education Department for alleged discrimination against Dalit students resulting in the death of two students in Government schools in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts since June.
The fact-finding report by the Social Awareness Society for Youths (SASY) pointed out that all the three Government schools had not followed the comprehensive guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for ensuring the safety and security of children in schools.
According to Pandiyan, Executive Director of SASY, the three incidents were reported in June and July. In the first incident, a 13-year-old girl studying in class VIII in the Kammapuram Government School in Virudhachalam in Cuddalore district fainted inside the school premises on July 7. The girl died as no proper medical treatment was provided to her in the absence of a medical officer in the Primary Health Centre.
In the second incident, a 14-year-old girl studying in class IX in a Government Higher Secondary School at Oraiyur in Cuddalore district was discriminated and abused by her classmates from the Vanniyar community. Though the girl reported the incident to the class teacher, the teacher and the school management remained negligent and did not take any action.
In another incident, a 13-year-old boy studying class VIII in the Raja Desingu Government Higher Secondary School at Gingee in Villupuram district drowned in an open sump on the school premises due to negligence on the part of the school authorities.
Mr. Pandiyan pointed out that the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) had prescribed various components of school safety including infrastructure, health and hygiene, psychosocial aspects and roles and responsibilities of teachers. But none of the three schools followed the guidelines. All the schools did not have security personnel, sweeper and office assistant inside the premises, which was a clear act of negligence, he said.
SASY has demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government pay ₹25 lakh as compensation to the kin of two children who died in the school due to the negligence of the school authorities. It has also demanded the Government to develop a school curriculum promoting awareness among children against any kind of abuse and to ensure their safety and security.
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) should ensure proper infrastructure and other basic amenities including mid day meal, drinking water and toilet facilities are available in all the government, aided and private schools, Mr. Pandiyan added.