Punishment by his teacher cost a nine-year-old student of Isanpur Municipal School No. 2 his eye. The boy, Raju Dhanjibhai Makwana, studying in class 3, was punished by his teacher, just because he was late to school for a few minutes. Though the incident took place on March 1, parents finally approached the civic body and met leader of Opposition Badruddin Shaikh on Tuesday.
On March 1, Raju reached school at 12.45 pm, 15 minutes late. Angered, the teacher, Shakuntalaben, punished him and ordered him to clean the toilets of the school. However, while cleaning a toilet, the boy slipped and his left eye hit the pointed corner of a rusted steel bucket.
Narrating the incident, Raju's mother, Manjula Makwana said, "On March 1, my son came back from school in the evening with his left eye bleeding. Even after the incident, the teacher did not allow him to come home and insisted on getting other toilets cleaned." Manjula works as domestic help at a few bungalows in Isanpur area.
When he reached home, his eye was swollen and bleeding. He was rushed to Nagari hospital where he was kept for four days and operated upon. However, vision in his injured eye could not be restored.
Raju's father Dhanjibhai claimed he went from pillar to post seeking justice. "We met the principal and school authorities seeking action against the teacher. But they showed little interest in helping us and suggested we solve the matter internally." The Makwanas then went to police station to lodge a complaint against the teacher.
When contacted, the chairman of municipal school board Jagdish Bhavsar said, "We have formed an enquiry committee chaired by deputy administrative officer Nalini Koptani. The committee has been given 15 days to find out the truth. Action will be taken after the committee submits its report." "No compensation can help our child. His future is spoiled," lamented Dhanjibhai.
