The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Schoolchildren go on hunger strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Schoolchildren go on hunger strike

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, DEC. 8. These children instead of playing around or quarrelling for chocolates as those of their own age would do, are on a hunger strike.

The children, who are studying in a residential school (Indira Gandhi International Academy, Yelahanka), are protesting in support of their demand for the release of their "Rajan mama" alias G. Gnanasekaran, General Secretary of Eelam National Democratic Liberation Front, who was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police on Sunday.

The school has 275 students who are children of refugees from Sri Lanka.

The children had not eaten since morning when The Hindu met them on Wednesday. According to the administrative officer of the school, Tyagarajan, the nursery section children will be asked to discontinue the protest from tomorrow but the others will continue to be on fast.

He said Mr. Gnanasekaran had been helping the school by arranging free food and education for the refugee children for the past 15 years. In his absence, the school would find it difficult to look after the children, he added.

Inquires with the Tamil Nadu Police revealed that Mr. Gnanasekaran and eight others had been detained under the Foreigners Act for overstaying. They had been lodged in the Chengalpattu sub-jail in Kancheepuram district in Tamil Nadu.

The residential school was started in 1990. "It was started by the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Mr. Gnanasekaran has been helping by arranging finance for the development of the children and he had made frequent visits to the academy. With his arrest, we are struggling to run the academy and even provide food for the children," said Jacob, one of the 13 wardens of the academy.

The academy runs the school for children studying from LKG to 10th standard.

The State Government had recognised the academy, Mr. Tyagarajan said. "But we do not get any aid from the Government. We mainly depend on the finance arranged by Mr. Gnanasekaran," he added.

Mr. Tyagarajan said two software companies of the city were also helping the academy. International Society for Krishna Consciousness was providing afternoon meals for the children, he added.

"I saw him (Mr. Gnanasekaran) in September. He has been working for our welfare. We need him," said Vinodan, who is in fourth standard. "I will not take food or study till our `mama' is released," said Sarmila, a student of sixth standard.

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