65 inmates denied entry into girls’ home

Annai Sathya government hostel for girl students was inaugurated in 1979 by former Chief Minister, MG Ramachandran, to enable girl students from poor economic background, and who had lost their parents, to continue education by staying in these hostels for free. 

At Madurai, 112 girl students were given accommodation in the hostel for the academic year 2016-17. But according to the recent guidelines issued under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, a case was filed at the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court and the court had directed the officials to maintain the strength of 35 students in the hostel. 

As per the directives of the High Court, the officials had selected only 35 students and had left out 65 students. When students returned to the hostel on Wednesday they were shocked to hear that they could no longer stay there. 

Alagulakshmi, a parent, from M.subbulapuram village in Madurai district, said her daughter, Sridevi, had been staying in the home for about five years now to pursue schooling. As she was a daily wage earner at a cracker unit at Sivakasi, she had sent her daughter to the home to stay and study. 

Now the home officials are refusing to allow her to stay there. “If Sridevi is not allowed to stay in the home there is no other option than to take her back to the cracker unit to work along with me,” said Alagulakshmi. Rani Chakkaravarthi, Child psychologist and social activist, said if girls from poor economic background are denied education, they would be forced to marry young or end up as child labourers. 

On Wednesday, parents went to the Collectorate and demanded the officials to accommodate the children in the home. Madurai Collector, K Veera Raghav Rao said that alternative arrangements would be made soon.