The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sangeeta does not want to return to school

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 25, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sangeeta does not want to return to school

Staff Reporter

The child fears she may be harassed again

Sangeeta undergoes tests at hospital
She has suffered muscle tear: father

Sangeeta

BANGALORE: A day after being allegedly battered by her teachers, 11-year-old Sangeeta, who bore injury marks on her limbs and head, is frightened and does not want to return to Vinoda English School at Goruguntepalya where she is a sixth standard student.

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, Sangeeta said, “I don’t want to go back to the school because the teachers might harass me again. Six teachers, including the principal and headmistress, abused me physically between 10 a .m. and 4 p.m. even though I had completed my class work.”

She claimed, “The problem started when I did not complete the mathematics class work some time ago as I did not know how to do it. My mother asked the teacher to give some examples so that I could complete the class work. My teachers then became angry with me. They even insulted me by lifting my skirt in front of other students.” On Friday, Sangeeta, accompanied by her parents K.C. Kuttappa and Mamata, underwent medical tests at the K.C. General Hospital in Malleswaram. The doctors gave her first aid on Wednesday night after a complaint was lodged with the Karnataka State Women’s Commission chairperson Pramila Nesargi.

According Mr. Kuttappa, X-rays revealed no fracture, but she had suffered muscle tear. “Doctors have prescribed medication and have advised my daughter to use the sling to provide aid to the injured right hand,” he added.

An ex-serviceman, Mr. Kuttappa is a native of Kadanga village near Napoklu in Kodagu district and works as a security guard at Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) near Yeshwantpur. He is a resident of Goruguntepalya. “After serving in the Indian Army for 18 years, I decided to settle down in Bangalore so that my children can get good education. I don’t want to send my daughter to that school again,” he said.

“I paid Rs. 8,500 as donation to the school during the admission and regularly paying school fees. Now, I will have to pay donation again to secure admission to my daughter in another school,” he said.

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