Mumbai college principal accused of forcing students to sell lottery tickets, activists say she should be sacked

More than 20 students wrote to the principal in December saying they were unable to sell tickets due to their curriculum and financial situation

In a letter to health ministry, activists have demanded the suspension of Reshma Desai, principal of a city-based nursing institute, for allegedly forcing her students to sell lottery tickets for a fund-raising initiative for the 13th National Conference of Society of Midwives, India (SOMI), to be held on February 22 and 23.

Activists questioned the organisation’s authority to hold a fund-raising initiative as the event’s pamphlet did not include the registration number of the trust (File pic for representation)

Desai initially refused the allegations and claimed to have taken the tickets back. “These weren’t lottery tickets, but fund raising tickets, similar to the one sold in schools,” she said.

However, when asked why she asked the students to sell the tickets of an event which is not affiliated with the government, she said, “There is no such event. The information you’ve received is absolutely incorrect.”

Activists questioned the organisation’s authority to hold a fund-raising initiative as the event’s pamphlets, posted on social media, did not include the registration number of the trust. Desai has been appointed as the organising vice-chairperson of the event.

According to sources at the institute, Desai had handed out 11 booklets of lottery tickets to 150 students in December 2016. and asked them to sell the tickets at Rs20 each.

RPY Rao, president, Society for Awareness of Civil Rights, said, “Desai coerced and forced the students to collect money which is a criminal act.” Rao has demanded that an enquiry be set up against Desai.

Sanjay Deshmukh, secretary, said, “If the letter has arrived in my office, I will look into the issue on Monday and act on it accordingly.”