Rajasthan: Caste hatred reaches government schools from villages, teachers and sometimes students are becoming victims.

Demonstration of students outside the school in protest after the assault on a Dalit female teacher in Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Rojda, Panchayat Samiti Jalsu of Jaipur district of Rajasthan, demanding collective TC.

Published on: 12 Feb 2024, 7:00 pm

Jaipur. The future of the country is built in educational institutions. Here, along with bookish knowledge, cultural and practical education is also given. That is why the teacher has been called the future maker. These days, increasing caste-based incidents among teachers in government schools of Rajasthan are a matter of concern. The incidents of fighting between teachers in school premises are creating caste poison in the tender minds of children. In the same state, the case of Indra Meghwal is also not hidden from anyone, in which a Dalit student was beaten after drinking water from the teacher’s pot, and later the student also died.

One such case has come to light from Mahatma Gandhi Government School Rojda of Panchayat Samiti Jalsu of Jaipur district of Rajasthan. A Dalit teacher couple was allegedly harassed on the basis of caste in the school premises here. The incident of a Dalit female teacher being beaten up by the staff in the school premises and dragged by her hair in front of the children has tarnished the teacher community. The school principal and two other teachers have been accused of assaulting a Dalit female teacher and insulting her with caste-related words. An FIR has also been registered in Harmada police station on the complaint of female teacher Pooja Bunkar regarding the incident. The investigation of this incident has been handed over to Assistant Police Commissioner Vrit Chaumu Jaipur West and IPS Sujit Shankar.

Students and people from social organizations sitting on strike

The victim itself was suspended

Former state president of Bhim Sena, Ravi Kumar Meghwal said that a Dalit teacher couple was harassed because of their caste in the government school here. The principal along with the male teacher beat the Dalit female teacher and dragged her by her hair. When this incident was complained to the department officials, instead of taking action against the culprits, the victim Dalit female teacher was suspended.

Ravi Kumar Meghwal said that the caste poison growing among the teachers in government schools is creating caste hatred in the tender minds of small children. The victim female teacher had written a letter to us describing the incident that happened to her and sought help in registering a case. Today we reached school with our workers. Here small children were protesting and demanding justice. We also joined the protest along with them. Departmental confirmation regarding the suspension of the victim female teacher has not been received. 

Students protest against suspension of female teacher

When the children of the school came to know about the suspension of a Dalit female teacher working in the Mahatma Gandhi Government School of Rozda village despite the assault, dozens of students sat on a dharna outside the school. By closing the main gate of the school, the students demanded reinstatement of the female teacher and action against the guilty teachers. If this is not done, the students of Scheduled Caste category have also given a collective application to the department officials for deduction of TC. During this time, parents and social organizations also gathered outside the school. On receiving information about the demonstration, police reached the spot and got the school locked. However, department officials could not be contacted in this regard.

According to the police, female teacher Pooja Bunkar told the police in her complaint that her husband Mukesh Kumar Verma teaches at Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Rozda Panchayat Samiti, Jalsu. He had reached the school at the appointed time on 7th February. In the attendance register at 7.30 After signing, the applicant informed Principal Krishna Vaishnav about the salary that was pending for four months. On this, the Principal threw him out of the office using abusive language. After this, the applicant submitted a written request regarding the pending salary. On this, the Principal Tore the application form and threw it on the applicant’s face.”

“The applicant’s husband has also seen the above incident. After this, the applicant’s husband went to the Chief Block Education Officer’s office to complain about the principal’s behavior and salary.” It is alleged that the Principal reprimanded the teacher couple using caste based words. After the complaint, the Chief Block Education Officer also assured to investigate the said incident. On complaining about the principal’s behavior and salary, the Chief Block Education Officer assured an immediate investigation. It is alleged that when the Principal got information about the complaint, he got angry and put a cross in red ink in the column of the teacher couple in the attendance register. Whereas the victim claims that she was present in the school the entire time.

The victim female teacher further told the police in Tehrihar that, on February 8, she had reached the school with her husband Mukesh Kumar Verma at 7.15 am. The husband took her out of the car and went to park the car. The principal became furious after seeing the victim in the school. Using caste based indecent language, the applicant’s husband was told, ‘Mister, get out.’ The allegation is that the principal slapped her (the applicant) when she interrupted her husband for indecency. Rajesh Chaudhary standing nearby hugged him tightly. Mamta Rani standing nearby started dragging her by her hair. The principal covered her mouth with her paws. Rajesh Choudhary twisted his hands tightly. The principal punched him in the stomach and all three caught hold of him and pushed him out of the school. The main gate of the school was locked.

When the villagers came to know about this incident, on the information of the villagers, police and other officials came and opened the lock of the school and allowed them (the teacher couple) inside the school. Get signatures in the attendance register. Harmada police station has registered an FIR on February 11 on the complaint of the female teacher under sections 341, 323, 354, 504, 509 and Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe Act.

The Mooknayak spoke to Krishna Vaishnav, Principal of Mahatma Gandhi Government School, after allegations of assault on a Dalit female teacher in the school premises. On this she said, “I do not talk to any journalist. I am getting calls from many journalists.”

Assistant Police Commissioner Vrit Chaumu and IPC Sujit Shankar, who are investigating the case registered in Harmada police station on behalf of Dalit female teacher, said that the case has been registered and they are investigating. Whatever facts emerge in the investigation, action will be taken as per rules.

Female teacher Pooja Bunkar told The Mooknayak, “I was harassed. I was beaten up in the school. I wrote a letter to social activist Ravi Kumar Meghwal to file a case in the police station. It is true that I have been suspended.” “