Teacher suspended for objectionable behaviour towards Dalit student, parents in Odisha

Boudh: A teacher at a state-run school under Kantamal Block in Boudh district was suspended for allegedly showing objectionable behaviour towards a Dalit student and parents.

Based on a probe report, the Boudh District Education Officer placed the teacher under suspension on Monday.

According to reports, Anusuya Devi, the Sanskrit teacher of Sadar High School at Jogindrapur Panchayat in Kantamal area, threw food items cooked for a feast on the occasion of Saraswati Puja on February 14 at the school as a Dalit student had touched the food containers.

This incident sparked tension among students as well as teachers at the school. Opposing such behaviour by the teacher, the student’s parents lodged a complaint. The headmaster of the school intervened in the matter for the solution, but the accused teacher misbehaved with the guardian.

The father of the student brought the matter to the notice of the Ambedkar Dalit Samaj Vikas Parishad – a Dalit association – and with its support, he approached the police seeking justice.

On the other hand, the District Pana-Ganda Vikas Parishad Secretary Sudhansu Danga drew the attention of the District Education Officer in this regard.

Following the allegations, the Boudh District Education Officer (DEO) Gendera Kujur directed the Additional DEO Ghanashyam Meher and Kantamal Block Education Officer Sanoj Sethy for an impartial investigation into the incident.

Based on the investigation report by the officials, the DEO took action against the erring Sanskrit teacher for her act.