Local school refuses to admit gang rape victim

As if being kidnapped and gang-raped wasn’t enough, a 12-year-old is being made to undergo another ordeal — of getting admission in a school.

As if being kidnapped and gang-raped wasn’t enough, a 12-year-old is being made to undergo another ordeal — of getting admission in a school.

Rajan Anand (name changed) has approached everyone — from the chief minister’s office to the east corporation’s education department — for his daughter’s admission in a local east Delhi municipal school, but to no avail.

The principal of the school refused her admission after questioning her character.

The incident comes at a time when the authorities are trying to sensitise people towards victims of rape.

“My daughter was kidnapped and had been missing for quite some time. During this period, her school struck her name off its rolls. We got a school-leaving certificate and approached another municipal school as she didn’t want to go back to the same school,” said Rajan.

In her complaint, Rajan said the school principal initially refused admission on the grounds that no seats were available.

But later he got to know that seats were available in the school and approached the principal again.

“The principal told me that she was aware of everything that happened to my daughter. She said my daughter was likely to run away again with the boy and that she won’t take her responsibility and refused her admission,” Rajan added.

Tired of the ordeal, Rajan approached NGO Pratidhi and filed a complaint against her, stating that the principal was afraid the girl would run away again.

“The girl’s father was even ready to give them in writing that he would take care of her but the principal asked him to approach other schools. Despite a letter from the education officer and the CM’s office, the principal simply refused admission,” said Raj Mangal Prasad, project director of the NGO Pratidhi.

“If schools behave in this manner, what can we expect from others? Our worker will accompany the father to the school on Wednesday for the admission,” he added.

When contacted, east corporation commissioner S Kumaraswamy said, “I will look into the issue. If this has happened, it will be set right and admission will be given to the girl.”