Rewari Schoolgirls Win Round 1, Govt Agrees to Upgrade School

The girls feared harassment and even molestation, if they were to travel to another village for studies.

Girl students break their fast and celebrate in Rewari (Photo: PTI)

86 girls who sat on a hunger strike on 10 May in Rewari district of Haryana have ended their protest. Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said a notification has been issued for upgrading the Government High School at the Gothra Tappa Dahina village. A principal has been deputed there and the admission process commences tomorrow, he said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The girls have braved harassment and even molestation, in their daily travel to another village for studies. They just decided that enough was enough and that they wanted a higher secondary level school in their village. 

We fear harassment and molestation by the youth of other villages and hence, we are demanding that our school be upgraded to Class XII.

Protester

Haryana has one of the lowest Child Sex Ratios (CSR) in the country. The state has also witnessed horrific crimes against women in the recent past, including the gangrape and killing of a 23-year-old woman, and the rape of a minor girl by her stepfather. Officials had earlier said the school could not be upgraded as it did not meet the condition of a minimum of 150 students required for the senior secondary level.

At least 150 students are required in Classes IX and X for a senior secondary upgrade, but the school has just 86 students in both classes.

Dharmbir Balrodia, District Education Officer, Rewari

The education minister said on Wednesday that the rules had been relaxed after discussion with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the Additional Chief Secretary of the school education department, P K Das.

(With inputs for PTI)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman and Mohd Ibrahim