college diktat: Don’t conceive during B.Ed course

Raipur: A private college offering BEd course in Chhattisgarh is under the scanner for making women students sign an undertaking, stating that they would not conceive during their twoyear academic programme.

The bizarre order was highlighted by a woman student of the Sant Harkewal B Ed College, Pratibha Minj, 24, who delivered a baby girl on February 3. Pratibha was three-month pregnant at the time of her admission in August, 2017, and had signed an affidavit that she would not opt for pregnancy during the course.

Pratibha, a resident of Ambikapur, has alleged that college authorities have threatened not to allow her to appear for examination, scheduled in April because she violated the rule. She also said that her teachers humiliated her and made her “perform” a dance in front of her class in December when she was seven-month pregnant for a practical exam, despite her repeated requests to exempt her from the performance.

“I requested the teachers to excuse me from dancing as I was seven-month pregnant, but they forced me, threatening to deduct my marks. I danced and they laughed, while I and my classmates were left embarrassed,” said Pratibha, who is fighting for her right to write the exam. Pratibha said she continued her classes regularly before the delivery and took leaves only after she delivered. As per the rules, students are supposed to have mandatory 80% attendance to appear for exams and Pratibha already has attendance of 94% in her records.

“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 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,” she said, adding that she has approached the National Students’ Union of India for help. When TOIcontacted Surguja collector Kiran Kaushal, she took note of the issue and asked the nodal officer for higher education SK Tripathi to issue a show-cause notice to the college for its apathy.

Yripathi said, “I have called up the principal and asked him to revoke the rule of getting affidavits from girl students regarding pregnancy. Though principal said that he was unaware about the woman being forced to dance, he promised to get back with

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