Chhatisgarh College Forces Pregnant Student to Dance in Class

In Chhatisgarh, a B.Ed student has come forward and narrated an ordeal she had to go through due to her college professors. Pratibha Minj revealed that she was three months pregnant when she took admission in the two-year B.Ed programme at  Sant Harkewal B Ed College. At that time, she was made to sign an affidavit that she would not conceive a child during her college years. Since she violated this rule, she was threatened by the authorities that she won’t be allowed to sit for the exam.

The 24-year-old woman alleges that the sole reason for this denial is that she conceived a child. She has the required attendance in college which makes her fully eligible to appear in exams. She had just taken a leave for two months after the delivery for her child.

Made to dance in class, humiliated

When Pratibha was seven months pregnant, she was made to dance in the class for a practical exam. Even after repeated requests for exemption, the teachers didn’t take her problem into account. As a result, she had to concede to the demand which left her humiliated. "I requested the teachers to excuse me from dancing as I was seven-months pregnant, but they forced me threatening that else they would deduct my marks. I danced and they laughed, while I and my classmates were left embarrassed," said Pratibha, as reported in The TOI.

Read Also: Pregnancy & Work: Know Your Pregnancy Rights At Workplace

Pratibha has been denied her right to appear for exams. Despite having reached the authorities for valid reasons behind such a move, she didn’t receive an answer. The college is infuriated as she “violated” their policy and thus she has been discriminated. "I had asked my parents to submit a leave application in college but the principal Anjan Singh insisted on my presence in the class. On March 17 and 20, I visited the college and requested the principal to grant me leave till exams, but he insisted that I attend all classes, else he won't allow me to appear for my exams," the TOI reported.

Further Action

Pratibha has approached National Students’ Union of India for help and a notice will soon be issued to the college. Meanwhile, such a regressive policy related to pregnancy has put the college up for severe criticism. Forcing the woman to dance during such a crucial time could have had health repercussions as well. Yet, the rigid approach adopted by the college has been heavily condemned and opened the floor for investigation.

Read Also: Study Reveals 75% Women Don’t Have Healthy Weight During Pregnancy

Nimisha is an intern with SheThePeople.TV