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| Edited By: Prashant Thakor |Source: DNA |Updated: Jan 21, 2011, 07:21 PM IST
The state health department might have taken swift action to curb the spread of CCHF virus in and around Kolat village in Sanand taluka, but on Thursday villagers became victims of prejudice produced by panic. Their children were turned away by schools in Sanand from attending classes.
Angered by this “inhuman treatment” to their children, the villagers came out of their homes and gathered in large numbers to stage a protest in the morning.
They alleged that these schools were discriminating against the residents of Kolat just because one woman had succumbed to CCHF two days ago.
Since Kolat is a small village, the residents send their children to Sanand town, about 10 km away, for better education. Private vans carry the students to various schools in the taluka town. But on Thursday morning, about 100 students were sent back home by all the major schools at Sanand.
On returning home, the children told their parents that their schools had asked them to take leave “as the virus may be transmitted to other kids”. The children were also told that they should come to schools only on Monday.
Enraged at the development, the villagers gathered near a chowk and staged demonstration against the “discrimination”. “My son was treated as if he is a criminal or untouchable. This is not acceptable. What is our fault?” said Ranchhod Jadhav, whose son Gopal was sent back by Shriji High School of Sanand.
Another student, Bhavesh Mahendra, narrated a similar tale. Bhavesh was sent back by New Era School and was told that it was to check the spread of the deadly virus to other students.
However, school authorities gave a different version. “It must be rumour and some kids may have taken advantage of it to enjoy a holiday. We haven’t told any student to go back home,” said Alka Goswami, assistant principal of New Era High School at Sanand.
A similar reaction came from Vaghela Boarding School of Sanand. “These kids themselves decided that there is a holiday,” said an official of the school.
