Dalit Student’s Rights Violated in Tamil Nadu School as She is Forced to Take Exams Outside Classroom During Menstruation

A heartbreaking incident has been reported from a government school in Tamil Nadu where a Dalit student was forced to sit outside her exam hall due to her menstruation. This action, which violates the student’s basic rights to equality and dignity, has ignited a nationwide conversation about caste-based and gender-based discrimination in India’s educational institutions.

The student, who had been studying diligently for her exams, was informed by a teacher that she could not take the exam in the classroom because she was menstruating. The reason, according to the teacher, was based on an age-old belief that menstruating women are ‘impure’ and thus should not be allowed to be in the same space as others. These beliefs, deeply rooted in caste hierarchies, continue to affect many Dalit girls in particular, who are often subjected to a double layer of discrimination: one based on their caste and the other due to their gender.

The student’s parents were shocked by the incident, and local activists have come forward to demand justice for the girl. Dalit rights organizations have highlighted the need for systemic reforms to address the intersectionality of caste and gender discrimination in schools. This case is a stark reminder of how deeply entrenched biases continue to impact the education of marginalized students in India.

For many Dalit girls, their experience in schools is marked by exclusion, humiliation, and discrimination. Whether it’s being segregated in classrooms, denied opportunities, or subjected to degrading practices like this, Dalit girls often find themselves at the mercy of societal prejudices that hinder their ability to learn and succeed. This incident underscores the necessity of creating educational spaces where all students, regardless of caste, gender, or social background, can thrive.