Date:12/06/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/12/stories/2004061201830300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Erode

SFI road roko against donations

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE, JUNE 11. The Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a road roko in Veerappanchatram against the collection of coercive donations from parents to admit their wards in 11th Standard.

Denying the charges, members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) held a counter demonstration.

According to information, three office-bearers of SFI Ramachandran, Bharathy Kannan and Sudha entered the Government Masimalai Gounder Girls Higher Secondary School, Veerappanchatram this forenoon, questioned the PTA president, K.V. Chidambaram and the teachers, Kandasamy and Ponnuswamy, why they were collecting donations for admission. It was stated that the PTA denied the charges and there were some arguments on the school premises.

After a few minutes, the three SFI office-bearers came out, squatted on the Erode-Sathyamangalam main road alleging assault by the PTA members and others inside the school. Some parents, who came to admit their wards, also joined in the road roko.

Traffic was thrown into chaos for two hours. There was tension when the PTA members held a counter demonstration.

Police personnel rushed to the spot, pacified the two groups and they dispersed.

The SFI members complained that in some Government schools including the Government Girls HSS, Veerappanchatram, Rs 500 to Rs 1500 was being collected as donation from each student at the time of admission in violation of the Government Order.

Mr. Chidambaram said some parents donated voluntarily and these false complaints were being made to defame the school. Police pickets were posted near the school.