Overview

• A 14-year-old Dalit student in Tamil Nadu was made to sit outside her classroom to write exams during her menstrual period, sparking public outrage.
• The girl's parents had requested a separate seating arrangement, but the school failed to accommodate, forcing her to sit on the steps outside the classroom.
• A viral video of the incident, showing the girl stating that the principal instructed her to sit outside, led to the suspension of the school principal.
• Tamil Nadu's School Education Department and Coimbatore rural police have launched investigations into the incident under the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act.
• Activists and officials have condemned the incident as discriminatory, highlighting the need for sensitivity and reform in addressing menstrual stigma and caste biases in schools.