THIRUVANANTHAPRUAM: SC/ST welfare miniser A.K. Balan on Friday visited Athira, a student of IPMS College of Aviation, Thiruvananthapuram, who reportedly fell off a lodge while trying to escape the harassment from her colleagues in the name of caste. After meeting the family members of the student, the minister said the government was with Athira. He directed the SC Development Department to bear her treatment cost. The minister had written to Chief Minister on Thursday demanding detailed probe against the management. The government on Thursday had sanctioned Rs 1 lakh emergency financial assistance for her treatment.
Mr Balan said the management had not bothered to provide any assistance to the student who had suffered serious injuries. He said the government will help the student to continue her education. “No student should be forced to discontinue study in the name of caste discrimination or poverty,” he said. The government will act strongly against the forces which are trying to discriminate and harass students belonging to poor families.
Meanwhile, SFI state secretary M. Vijin said his organisation will continue the agitation till management members are booked and all the guilty are punished. “SFI will oppose tooth and nail any discrimination in the name of caste on the campuses of the state. Complaints of discrimination of students in private institutions will be taken up strongly,” he added.
Athira’s mother Indira who is a Kudumbasree cleaning staff, said her daughter fell off front he building trying to save herself from the physical harassment. There was a deliberate attempt from certain quarters to portray the incidents suicide attempt, she added. The police on Thursday arrested five girl students of IPMS College following the statement given by Athira. The arrested, all 19-year-old and classmates of Athira, have been identified as Neethu, Athira — both natives of Thiruvalla, Shaija from Kollam, Vaishnavi from Thiruvananthapuram and Shalu, a native of Alappuzha.
