MP: Man dances in protest against son’s high school fees

After repeated attempts to get his son’s school fee reduced under right to education, a Dalit man on Tuesday embarked in a unique form of protest — he danced inside Mandsaur collector Swatantra Kumar Singh’s office.

After repeated attempts to get his son’s school fee reduced under right to education (RTE), a Dalit man on Tuesday embarked in a unique form of protest — he danced inside Mandsaur collector Swatantra Kumar Singh’s office.

Dashrasth Suryvanshi, a resident of Richha Baccha village in Mandsaur , said dancing was his way of expressing his protest against the “dilly-dallying” by the administration.

“At the time of my son’s admission [in 2012], the school administration promised me they would waive off the fee under the RTE Act but in January, they served me a notice and said that I have to pay Rs 27,400 as fees... My elders told me that we were dancers therefore I have decided to dance in protest,” Suryvanshi said, adding that he is very poor and will not able to deposit the amount.

“I first went to the district education officer (DEO) and expressed my grievance. Then I went to MLA Yashpal Sisodia, who contacted collector Swatantra Kumar Singh and urged him to look into the matter. Last Tuesday, I went to the collector’s office, who assured me of action but nothing happened. Hence, I reached the collector’s cabin again and danced in front of him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Singh told Hindustan Times that the school told him Suryvanshi’s family is not eligible for fee reimbursement under RTE.

“I had asked the school to provide the details of his case and according to the school, he is not eligible. But I will look after the matter from all angles,” he said.