Coimbatore: In a private school in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, a Class 8 girl was forced to sit outside the class to write her examination, reportedly because she was menstruating. The video that went viral on social media shows the student writing on paper while sitting on school stairs. The girl reportedly belongs to the Dalit community which further intensified the outrage against the incident.
In the video, a woman reportedly her mother, approached the girl and asked her in Tamil, “Would they not let you in for the examination because you attained puberty,” as published in a report by NDTV.
To this, the girl responded, “I was asked by the principal to sit here and write the exam.” She further said that it was not the first instance and before this also she was made to write the exam at an isolated spot outside the class.
The widespread backlash following the viral video compelled the school administration to take action. Anbil Mahesh, Tamil Nadu school education minister informed that the principal of the school which is located in Senguttaipalayam village near Pollachi has been suspended.
The education department has also asked for clarifications from the school management. Anbil Mahesh in a post on X wrote, “A departmental inquiry was conducted against the private school. The school principal has been suspended. Oppression of children in any form cannot be tolerated. Dear student, do not sit alone! We are here. We will be here.”
