COIMBATORE: A day after a group of students and their parents petitioned district collector K Rajamani against the headmistress of Kandhasamy Nagar Government Primary School, she was placed under suspension on Tuesday on charges of abusing the students verbally and physically.
Human rights activist Vincent Kathir, who visited the school and interacted with the students and other teachers, said the district education department issued the suspension order to the headmistress, Jayanthi, only after he threatened to include the collector’s name in the case to be lodged by him under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Act, 2015.
A member of Madurai-based Evidence, Kathir was in the city to investigate the case and ensure justice was done to the victims. He spoke to the students, teacher of the anganwadi attached to the school and former colleagues of Jayanthi.
"From what I have gathered from them, Jayanthi used to abuse the students and the teacher as they belonged to the dalit and arunthathiyar communities. A teacher told me that Jayanthi stopped speaking to her after the latter came to know about her dalit background. The headmistress also used to abuse the anganwadi teacher in front of all the children."
Kathir attributed the lower student strength of the school to the headmistress’ negative attitude. While there are 50 children in the anganwadi, the total strength of the students from Class I to V is just 42.
Divya Bharathi, a Class V student, said, "One day, when I vomited after having lunch, she looked at me with disgust and asked me whether I was pregnant and if yes, how many months."
A Class IV boy said the headmistress used to cover her nose when they walked into the classroom. Kumaran, who recently completed the primary schooling, recalled how he was forced to clean toilets in the school and anganwadi every day.
"I have confirmed from multiple sources that Jayanthi used to make the students clean toilets and sweep school premises," Kathir said.
Human rights activist Vincent Kathir, who visited the school and interacted with the students and other teachers, said the district education department issued the suspension order to the headmistress, Jayanthi, only after he threatened to include the collector’s name in the case to be lodged by him under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Amendment Act, 2015.
A member of Madurai-based Evidence, Kathir was in the city to investigate the case and ensure justice was done to the victims. He spoke to the students, teacher of the anganwadi attached to the school and former colleagues of Jayanthi.
"From what I have gathered from them, Jayanthi used to abuse the students and the teacher as they belonged to the dalit and arunthathiyar communities. A teacher told me that Jayanthi stopped speaking to her after the latter came to know about her dalit background. The headmistress also used to abuse the anganwadi teacher in front of all the children."
Kathir attributed the lower student strength of the school to the headmistress’ negative attitude. While there are 50 children in the anganwadi, the total strength of the students from Class I to V is just 42.
Divya Bharathi, a Class V student, said, "One day, when I vomited after having lunch, she looked at me with disgust and asked me whether I was pregnant and if yes, how many months."
A Class IV boy said the headmistress used to cover her nose when they walked into the classroom. Kumaran, who recently completed the primary schooling, recalled how he was forced to clean toilets in the school and anganwadi every day.
"I have confirmed from multiple sources that Jayanthi used to make the students clean toilets and sweep school premises," Kathir said.
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