Students beaten, made to clean toilets: Parents stage protest at Jharkhand school
Tension gripped a residential school in Jharkhand's Dhanbad after parents accused the institution of physically assaulting students, verbally abusing them and forcing them to clean
Tension gripped a residential school in Jharkhand's Dhanbad after parents accused the institution of physically assaulting students, verbally abusing them and forcing them to clean toilets. The allegations triggered a protest outside the school, with family members demanding action against the management and raising concerns over the safety and welfare of children. The incident was reported at the residential Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir in Bapunagar area. Following the allegations, a large number of parents gathered at the school and sought a thorough investigation into the functioning of the institution.
Read Full Story According to the parents, children staying at the hostel are routinely subjected to physical punishment, verbal abuse and made to clean toilets. They alleged that such treatment has left several students mentally distressed and questioned the school's standards of care. Parents also claimed that hostel facilities were overcrowded, alleging that 16 to 18 children were accommodated in a single room, which also served as their classroom. They said the arrangement had adversely affected both the students' living conditions and their studies.
Family members further alleged that complaints of physical assault had surfaced earlier as well, but no action had been taken against those responsible. They demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter and strict action against anyone found guilty. More than 120 students are reportedly enrolled as residential boarders at the school. Responding to the allegations, school teacher Sitaram Kumar acknowledged that the institution had certain shortcomings but denied claims of inhuman treatment of students. He said disciplinary punishment is occasionally given to children who engage in repeated misconduct.
The teacher also admitted that older students are sometimes asked to clean toilets, though he said sanitation workers visit the school twice a week for cleaning. The school maintained that such measures were linked to maintaining discipline and routine responsibilities rather than mistreatment. Ends (With inputs from Sithun Modak.)
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