Students subjected to mental, physical harassment for non-payment of fees

The gap that developed between students and schools during the pandemic on the subject of student non-payment of fees is now widening in the desert state, with schools penalising students in various ways.

Schools are also withholding results and transfer certificates from parents who are attempting to move their children to other schools because they are unable to pay the costs. After reopening, many schools increased their fees by 25%, altered uniforms, and quadrupled transportation fees. Despite constant followups, the state government has failed to take strict action against any such institution, according to Manish Vijayvergiya, state president of the Rajasthan-based Abhibhavak Ekta Andolan.

He said, "The first example in this case can be given of a girl whose hand was broken recently by a school teacher over non-payment of fees. The teacher stopped the girl after school hours and twisted her hand so hard it led to a fracture."

Her father Badal said that he deposited the complete fees except three months for his 10year-old daughter Shivani Panchal. However, the school continued harassing the student.

"Recently her teacher detained my daughter in the school, slapped her and twisted her hand hard, which broke the bone of her hand. When the girl's health deteriorated, the teacher called us and misbehaved with us," he said, adding that they have got a FIR registered in this matter. “I work at a petrol pump and have deposited the fees with the money that came to me. Three months' fees were pending which were promised to be paid back,” he said.

In another school, students were reportedly made to stand in the sun because their parents could not pay the fees. Around 500 children were made to sit in the library in Vidyashram School, and their parents were not given their results. In fact, the school management threatened the parents that the children will not be promoted on which hundreds of parents protested against the school. They gathered outside the school and demonstrated and filed a report at the Bajaj Nagar police station against the school.