Names of schools will be changed which bears symbol of caste and all schools will be declared as discrimination free zone. The School and Mass Education Department has recently taken the decisions to address inequalities and caste based discrimination in schools.
School and Mass Education Secretary Usha Padhee has issued two different circulars to all district Collectors on the two issues and asked for implementation of the same with immediate effect. The recent circular is an outcome of the charter of demand placed to Padhee in a meeting recently organised by Dalit Adhikar Sangathan (DAS) in Bhubaneswar.
Attending the meeting, Padhee had assured of looking into the matter and now her quick response to the concerns is a benchmark in the history of school education, said ActionAid Programme Manager Ghasiram Panda, who had placed these issues before her.
The circulars will act as weapons to combat caste based discrimination in schools as well as reinstate dignity of the Dalit and other socially excluded groups and promote equal citizenship, he added. Dalit Adhikar Sangathan convenor Kisan Pattnaik thanked Padhee for taking the step for the welfare of the excluded Dalit children.