This refers to the report that a private institution in Bangalore snipped the hair of students admitted under the Right to Education quota to distinguish them from other students (“Children of a lesser cut,” July 18).
Already, there exist infrastructural barriers to the successful implementation of the RTE Act. The school has added one more barrier to the list. The humiliation the children have been subjected to is a crime against society. The school has not only demonstrated its intention to oppose social inclusion but also instilled a sense of inferiority in the children by cutting their hair. The rest of the students have been given the message that economic status is very important.
Amit Kumar,
Delhi
Disbelief and anger — I was overcome by these emotions when I saw the front page picture. What values is the school seeking to impart to its other students? If they are exposed to such blatant discrimination at such a young age, will they not grow up believing that it is okay to discriminate on the basis of someone’s social status?
Jayalakshmi Paonam
New Delhi
Schools must understand that by indulging in such acts, they are sending a wrong message to other children too. It is a pity that such incidents should take place in so-called “educational institutions”.
Mansi Teotia,
Noida
The contempt with which private schools treat the RTE Act has manifested itself in its crudest form. The modern form of untouchability is deplorable. Such abhorring tendencies should be reined in by a stricter implementation of the law. A glaring omission in the Act is the exclusion of the minority institutions, which should be asked to allocate 25 per cent of their seats to the economically weaker sections of their own community.
Kasim Sait,
Chennai
Left to themselves, private schools will never treat students admitted under the RTE quota well. Only the fear of punishment and action will force them to follow the Act in letter and spirit. But it is the government that is to blame for such shameful incidents. Instead of improving the infrastructure and teaching standards in government schools, it has forced private schools, which are capitalistic and business minded, to do its job.
Arunesh Mayanka,
Mysore
The treatment meted out to the underprivileged children in the Bangalore school is disturbing. Strict action needs to be taken against the management. The incident should serve as an eye-opener to policymakers about the damage their policies can do to young and innocent minds.
Srinath Mahesh,
Noida
