A 9-year-old girl, Amaiyra, who died by suicide by jumping from the fourth floor of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur, was bullied according to media reports, claimed the parents of the deceased child, who also held the teacher responsible for ignoring their complaints.
The family has reportedly filed a first information report (FIR) against the school management, alleging that her death took place under suspicious circumstances and demanding an inquiry into the involvement of the teaching staff. According to an NDTV report, the parents alleged that the bullying included verbal abuse and comments with “sexual connotations”.
This is according to a five-member committee of Rajasthan’s education department, which has been set up to submit its report on the girl’s death on November 1 next week. Horrifying CCTV footage, without sound, shows her climbing a railing moments before her fatal fall.
According to an India Today report, the girl’s mother, Shivani Meena, said they told the teacher about the bullying; however, no action was taken. “I would talk to the class teacher, I talked to the class coordinator not once but several times over the last year, but they either shrugged me off or ignored me,” NDTV quoted the girl’s mother as saying.
Her husband Vijay Meena recounted an incident during a parent-teacher meeting (PTM) where he said a group of children pointed at Amaiyra and another boy. Amaiyra felt embarrassed and hid behind Vijay. He then raised the issue at a parent-teacher meeting. He mentioned, “The teacher told me that this is a comedy school and Amaiyra has to learn to talk to all the kids, even the boys. I told the teacher that it’s my daughter’s choice if she doesn’t want to talk to the boys.”
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“They charge significant fees, but where is the accountability”
An NDTV report said Amaiyra’s uncle, Sahil, sought “answers from the school” and asked “with over 5,000 children and a six-storey building, how did they get permission to build more floors without having a grill or net for safety? It’s the most basic thing. How can you have open floors with so many children around? How come there’s no sound on SECCTV days, according to SE15 guidelines there should be sound CCTV footage should be available It’s a prestigious school in Jaipur, they charge hefty fees, but where is the accountability?’
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“We have spoken to her teachers, classmates and other school staff. Prima facie she was not willing to visit the school on the day of the incident. But the truth will be known after we talk to her parents,” Jaipur District Education Officer Ramniwas Sharma said, Hindustan Times reported.
Sharma said investigators found that some classmates had used “foul words” on the girl. He added: “We are looking into whether she was depressed because of this or whether she also had some problems at home.”
Meanwhile, Jaipur Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajarshi Raj Verma told NDTV that the police have recorded the parents’ statements and are verifying all the details. He claimed: “We are recording and verifying everything. The parents were in shock and unable to speak, but whatever their concerns are, we will record and verify and investigate.”
