Bhopal: Upset and angry for facing harsh punishments, girls at a government school in the Madhya Pradesh capital erupted in protest on Wednesday.
Hundreds of girls from Sarojini Naidu Girls Higher Secondary School staged a sit-in protest against the management and a teacher named Varsha Jha, who they have accused of mistreating them.
The girls claimed they have been forced to clean the premises and classrooms, mow the lawn, and subjected to harsh punishments like standing under the scorching sun if they are five minutes late to enter the class.
The school administration has denied the students’ claims.
NDTV quoted principal Malini Verma as saying that an ex-Armyman had been hired to enforce discipline in school. She added the Education Department officials will decide on the next step following the girls’ demonstration which has attracted a lot of eyeballs.
Photos and video clips circulated on social media showed angry young girls in uniform gathered outside the school building in huge numbers.
Some of them were seen stomping on a nameplate and others breaking windows, while others stood on benches to pull down ceiling fans.
Some students sat on the ground with hands their faces from the scorching sun.
Sweating profusely, the students shouted slogans against the management and Jha, the offending teacher, who was appointed a month ago.
Students also complained about school timings, as classes ending at 6 pm made it difficult for girls who live far away to return home.
They pointed out that harsh punishments affected students’ health, but teachers failed to recognise their concerns.
Speaking about Jha, the new teacher, a student said she was brought in to discipline students.
“She scolds and punishes students who make mistakes… she doesn’t even talk with respect. Many students complained but the principal did not listen,” the girl told NDTV.
The protests prompted the Director of Madhya Pradesh government’s Education Department to visit the school. Jha was asked to apologise before being sent on indefinite leave.
Even the police were summoned.
“We were informed of protests by girl students that could lead to a law and order situation. A team was sent to calm things down and persuade the girls to end the protest,” ACP Mayur Khandelwal was quoted as saying.
The usual political blame game kicked in as well, with the Opposition Congress hitting out at the ruling BJP and its ‘beti bachao, beti padhao’ campaign.
