AFRO-NETS> Babita awaits Court Order to go to School

[Sex Workers Forum Kerala <swfk@asianetindia.com>]

Babita awaits Court Order to go to School
-----------------------------------------
 
Maleeha Raghaviah writes in the Hindu dated October 18, 2003:
 
"Caught in the tussle between her guardians and the school au-
thorities, six-year old Babita Raj of Parappanangadi has no other 
option to wait patiently to attend school.
 
Her fault -- She is the daughter of Arun Raj of Feroke who died 
of AIDS two years back.
 
Though Babita was admitted to an aided upper primary school near 
her house at Parappanangadi, following protests from the parent-
teacher Association (PTA), as well as the school authorities, she 
was barred from attending class. This despite Babita testing 
negative for HIV, and the Government advocating that even chil-
dren who tested positive should be allowed to attend regular 
schools.
 
Social workers took up her cause, and the District Collector, 
educational authorities and the tahsildar intervened. Though a 
medical certificate was submitted, majority of PTA members op-
posed her attending the school. She was denied admission to the 
Government school too.
 
Babita has now been offered admission at the Government LP School 
at Kalpetta, Wayanad thanks to the initiative taken by the Head 
Teacher Mohammed.
 
Efforts are also on to provide accommodation for the child at the 
Scheduled Caste hostel near the school.
 
But her relatives, who have approached the High Court with a pe-
tition that she be allowed to attend the private school at Parap-
panangadi, would prefer to wait for the court verdict rather than 
let the little girl go ahead with her schooling."
 
--
Similar incidents of stigma and discrimination may occur in the 
future also. The fact that it is not too late nor to be ashamed 
to look at what went wrong in the AIDS prevention programme in 
Kerala. I am not to blatantly criticize the AIDS Control Society 
or the NGOs working in that area. It is a common issue and nobody 
can escape being a part of the state. A proper evaluation is eve-
ryone's right and at the same time a social responsibility.
 
It is a shame that we need the president, judges, the health min-
ister, the chief minister, and all the official machineries to 
teach the educated people that you should be human beings. It is 
time for everyone to be adults and gentle men/women in all re-
spects.
 
Love
 
Subhash
Sex Workers Forum Kerala
Convent Road, Vanchiyoor Post, Trivandrum, South India
Pin 695035
Tel.: +91-471-368142
mailto:swfk@asianetindia.com
http://www.firmkerala.org/projects/swfk/index.htm

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