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42 Deaf Students Abused at Gujarat School; Warden Detained
Forty-two Deaf students at a school in Surendranagar, Gujarat, were reportedly subjected to abuse, not enough food and forced household work.
42 Deaf Students Allegedly Abused at Gujarat School: Warden Detained
Confidential Complaint Leads to Investigation
An investigation has begun at Shree D.S. Parekh & Amrutben Parekh Deaf & Dumb School in Surendranagar, Gujarat, after allegations of abuse and mistreatment involving 42 Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
The complaint led Wadhwan Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mehul Bharwad and his team to inspect the school and hostel. Officials spoke with students to understand their experiences. Sign-language teachers helped the students communicate and give their statements.
What Are the Allegations?
The school has 42 students: 15 girls and 27 boys. Reports allege that hostel warden Sonal Chauhan beat and harassed students, did not provide them with enough food, and forced them to do household work.
Some reports also allege that girls were made to massage the warden late at night. Chauhan was detained following the allegations. Another staff member, Prashant Bhatt, was also accused of making students do work. Reports raised additional concerns involving alcohol, which are also part of the wider allegations.
Questions About Funding and Management
The institution is run by the Manav Seva organisation. Questions have also been raised about its finances and the use of donations. The school reportedly received government assistance of Rs.2,500 per child each month. Allegations of irregularities involving money and donated goods have also emerged.
Trustee Siddhesh Mehta said new trustees had taken over the institution around six to eight months earlier. The management said it would investigate the allegations. The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations must be established through the appropriate legal process.