She was repeatedly gang-raped by her teachers at a government college in Patan, yet topped the primary teachers certificate (PTC) exam. Now, she has turned a farm labourer, earning Rs60 a day. Pooja (name changed), a Dalit girl, who was violated for months by the very people who were supposed to protect and nurture her, was promised a job by the state government.
The promise was made during the trial of her six tormentors, who were later sentenced to life, after an outraged and shamed Gujarat demanded the government act responsibly and sensitively.
The promise seems to have been forgotten today. While her application for employment is tossed back and forth in babudom’s labyrinth, Pooja struggles to fend for her bed-ridden parents. Her mother underwent a hysterectomy recently and father suffered a bone injury,Manjula Pradeep, executive director of Navsarjan, the NGO that has been championing Pooja’s fight for justice, said.
Talking to DNA over phone, Pooja said, “I cannot join a private school because they pay a measly Rs1,000 a month. As a labourer, I earn Rs60 per day.” Her toils demoralise her so much that even the memory of scoring 86.8% in PTC exam provides little succor.
The government is non-committal. State education minister Ramanlal Vora told Pooja this: “The government has received your application for a job and will get back to you in due course.” The only concrete offer she was made, of a clerical job, was when she was fightingfor justice.
“The government has to perform its role by offering her social security and ensuring her physical and mental well-being,” Pradeep said.
He corroborated Pooja’s statement that she had sent written applications to all government notables, including chief minister Narendra Modi, and also metMehsana collector Ajay Bhadoo twice. Bhadoo confirmed receiving her representation.
“She had made a representation to us in writing, three or four months ago,” he said. “Weforwarded it to the district primary education officer, who, in turn, forwarded it to the state government.”
Meanwhile, Pooja continues to press on with her menial job, showing the same spirit that allowed her to survive her unspeakable trauma. She has received no monetary assistance, apart from the chief minister’s token relief of Rs1 lakh released soon after her story broke.
Comments