Fearing harassment, Rewari girls on strike for school up gradation  

Around 80 girls of a government high school in Rewari, Haryana have gone on an indefinite strike demanding up gradation of their institution, fearing they will be harassed if they travel to a senior secondary school located in a different village for higher studies.

The stir by the girls, studying in class IX and X in Gothda Tappa Dahina village, entered its sixth day today. Of the 86 protesting students, 13 are on hunger strike, village head Suresh Chauhan told.
"For higher education, girls of our village have to go to Kanwali village, located 3 km from here, after Class X," he added.

One of the girls on hunger strike said: "We fear harassment and molestation by youths of other villages and hence, we are demanding up gradation of our school up to Class XII." The protesters said they would not stop until the government accepted their demand.

Meanwhile, the district education authorities said since the school did not fulfill the minimum condition required for the senior secondary level, it could not be upgraded. "At least 150 students are required in Classes IX and X for the senior secondary upgrade but the Dahina village school has just 86 students in both classes," said Dharmbir Balrodia, District Education Officer (DEO), Rewari.