Tribal Parents Seek Collector’s Intervention Over Expulsion of Two Kasturba School Students
The parents alleged that their children were forced to leave the institution after being promoted to Class X.
Visakhapatnam:Parents of two tribal girl students have sought the Anakapalli district collector’s intervention to settle an issue against the special officer of the Kasturba Residential School in Rolugunta.
The parents alleged that their children were forced to leave the institution after being promoted to Class X.
The students, Gemmila Mary of Losingi village in Arla panchayat and Killo Jhansi of Pedagaruvu village, had been studying at the school since Class VI and were promoted to Class X after completing their Class IX examinations.
According to their families, the girls returned to the school on June 12 after the summer vacation but were allegedly denied admission.
The special officer initially cited health concerns and suggested an assessment before asking the parents to take Transfer Certificates (TCs) and withdraw the students from the school.
The parents said they signed the TC applications prepared by the SO, but are now unable to secure admission for their children elsewhere as the academic year has already commenced.
“We live in hilltop villages. It is unfair for the SO, whose duty is to ensure our children receive education, to issue TCs simply because they were lagging slightly in their studies,” the parents said.
They argued that the Kasturba schools were established to prevent dropouts among students from marginalised communities and that issuing TCs in such circumstances would defeat that objective.
Tribal and community organisation leaders, including K Govinda Rao, honorary district president of Girijana Sangham, E Chiranjeevi, district secretary of KVPS, and Gemmili Vasu of PTG Sangham, supported the families and sought an inquiry into the matter.
They alleged that the Special Officer had acted unfairly and warned of protests at the district collector’s office if action was not taken. Parents, including Killo Eswaramma, Killo Baburao, Gemmila Kondababu and Gemmila Lakshmi, joined the demand for intervention and restoration of the students’ right to continue their education.