Chennai | Multiple reports had emerged a few days back that the students in the Tamil Nadu have been wearing colour-coded bands according to their caste.
The state government had announced that they will be tracking these schools and impose an end to it.
However, now the education minister has said that no action will be taken on the matter.
“The tradition of students wearing coloured-wrist bands will continue. The circular was not brought to my notice and I was not aware of it,” Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan said.
“I have never seen such instances of class discrimination in my 2.5 years of serving as the education minister”, he added.
Directorate of School Education had also asked for a report from all districts on what action has been taken in this regard.
“It is informed that the officer trainees of IAS 2018 batch lodged a representation to the Government where it has been stated that in some schools in Tamil Nadu, the students were made to wear colour-coded wrist bands,” the circular dated July 21 2019 stated.
The wristbands come in various colours to determine whether the student is from “upper class” or “lower class”.
“These practices are supposedly being used for sports team selection, reassembling during class and lunch intervals. Allegedly, these practices are enforced upon by students themselves and supported by influential caste persons and teachers,” the statement added.
The department had said “severe actions” will be taken against those who were practising it.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
