Displaying his insensitive lack of apathy, the headmaster of a school in Tumakuru reportedly humiliated a class 5 Dalit boy and his mother on Republic Day for not paying fees.
The incident took place 10 days after the boy, Kishan, was forbidden by the headmaster of National English School in Yallapura, Manjunath, from attending classes until he paid the fees amounting to Rs 22000, a TNIE report said.
The boy’s mother, Prema had approached the Block Development Officer Basavaraju and had updated him of the incident. The officer had then requested Manjunath to allow the boy to attend classes as exams were nearing.
Kishan and his mother entered the school for Republic Day celebrations and Manjunath allegedly screamed at the duo and insisted that he would never allow the boy to attend classes. The boy’s mother also alleged that Manjunath had previously bullied and scolded her son for not paying the fees, according to the report.
Kishan has been studying in NES since kindergarten. Until last year, his parent always paid fees on time. Kishan’s father, Mahesh, had paid Rs 5,000 as fees in June 2016. Mahesh stitches bags and had stopped earning as manufacturers stopped purchasing his products after demonetization. Prema alleged that her husband, who is currently unemployed, threatens to abandon her and Kishan, the report said.
The headmaster confirmed to TNIE that he had forbidden the boy to attend classes until the fees were paid. The BEO, Basavaraju plans on approaching Manjunath to negotiate once more.