The teenager was reportedly writing an Artificial Intelligence test on September 23, 2021, when the incident reportedly took place. The young girl was reportedly menstruating and had to use the restroom in the middle of writing her exam. The teacher suspected that she was going to the washroom to cheat. Subsequently, the teacher called her to the staff room and took her to the washroom with the ayah and allegedly asked the girl to remove her clothes including her undergarment. The teacher suspected that she was hiding a mobile phone. The girl reportedly told her mother that the teacher insisted that she remove her pants, where she believed she was hiding a phone.
The school has denied all allegations and said that they have submitted their version to the police. The investigation in the matter is still ongoing TNM reported.
As per the reports the girl’s mother went to the police and lodged an FIR. She further alleged that the same teacher has mistreated the girl earlier as well. The mother said, “Knowing the pattern of how she (the accused teacher) is treating my daughter and the several incidents that took place clearly indicate that this prejudice is illogical and deliberate and it is fair to assume this is due to the colour of skin of my daughter and her caste background,” in her complaint to the SCPCR.
Casteism is rampant in India. Several celebrities in recent past have been accused of passing casteist slurs on the internet. As per a report by Oxfam, the dropout rates of students belonging to SC, ST and OBC community is higher than other categories. 75 per cent of more than six million students who dropped out of school are either Dalits, Muslims or Adivasis. Even though lower-caste students get a seat in schools and colleges, the casteist environment makes it difficult for them to survive.
This story first appeared on shethepeople.tv