Context
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)’s notice to Maharashtra government
What has happened?
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Maharasthra government over the reported deaths of more than 500 girls at State-run schools for tribal students. It had sent a similar notice to the State government in October 2016.
Backdrop: Allegations of sexual abuse
In total, there are about 1,100 State-run and aided residential schools for tribal students where around 1.6 lakh girls and 2.3 lakh boys study. These schools have been plagued by allegations of sexual abuse
SuoMotu cognizance
The NHRC took suomotu cognizance of media reports about the death of more than 500 girls belonging to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) under “suspicious circumstances” at the Ashram schools run by the Maharashtra Government for tribal communities over the last 10 years
• As per reports, some of the girls had been sexually abused by teachers and other staff at these schools.
Violation of right to life
The NHRC observed that the media reports indicated a violation of the Right to Life and Dignity of the students and pointed towards negligence by the authorities
Unethical practice
The NHRC said the reports had revealed that the school authorities kept “menstruation records” of the girls and even “carried out urine tests to check for pregnancies” when any of the girls missed a period or returned from vacations. This “unethical practice” on minors without the consent of parents was questioned
