SWO, APWWS (Miao Unit ) Visit JNV Bordumsa After Bullying Incident, Urge Govt to Formulate Anti-Bullying Policies

Bordumsa I Jun I 28 :

A joint team from the Singpho Women Organisation (SWO) and the Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society (APWWS) Miao Unit visited Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Bordumsa in Changlang District on Thursday.

 The team interacted with JNV principal Rajeev Ranjan to inquire about the reported incident of senior students ragging class VIII students. 

 JNV principal Rajeev Ranjan informed them that the school does not take such incidents lightly and the five seniors involved in the act have been rusticated. 

 “This incident is very unfortunate and condemnable. SWO, India does not take such ragging and assault of any student lightly and vehemently condemns such behaviour, ” the team stated interacting with the principal.

 Further inquiry by the visiting team revealed that there are no separate wardens employed in the hostels. Instead, teaching staff take on warden duties as an additional responsibility. 

 Ranjan informed them that this system is followed in all JNVs across India since they are residential schools. 

 The team also found that the school has only 18 teachers on staff, while the capacity is for 26. There is currently no counselor appointed. The appointment of adequate counselors is needed on an immediate basis,” the visiting team observed. 

“Many students are victims of mentall and physical torture for quite some time and their mental health is of utmost importance,” they raised concern.

 The team also visited the hostels for both girls and boys, as well as the school campus. SWO found that the JNV residential school premises require higher boundary walls, as they are currently easy to jump over. 

From a security standpoint, the visiting team observed that this needs to be addressed seriously as Someone could easily bring unwanted goods or bunk onto campus, making it unsafe. 

 The boundary wall beyond the playing field was found to be covered with tall, thick grass and vegetation. The dormitories, especially the senior boys’ dorm, are in poor condition. The bathrooms and toilets are found unclean during the inspection. 

 “The lack of discipline can be understood from the way personal belongings, bedding, unmade beds and clothes are strewn about,” the visiting team observed after inspecting the school.

They also underscored the need for another hostel building for girls.

The visiting team opined that the Parent Teacher Council (PTC) should take a serious look at these issues.

 “The reported incident is just the tip of the iceberg. There has been unreported bullying for a long time, and many parents only find out about their children being bullied and beaten much later. The school administration needs to involve the local community in the PTC, as they would be the first responders in the event of any incident taking place,” they suggested. 

 The JNV school has a total of 530 students, with 290 girls. There are only two female teaching staff members and one nurse. The team also found that there were no local teaching staff. 

 “JNV is of hope for many students from poor families,” the team said.  The institution caters to many underprivileged children in the district. However, no education is worth the risk of a child’s safety. It’s time for the JNV to appoint separate wardens who can properly watch over and guide these children,” they stated strongly advocating that JNV Bordumsa needs to focus more on discipline alongside academics and extracurricular activities.

 The team further urged the state government, particularly the education department, to formulate strong anti-bullying policies for all schools and colleges in the state. 

 “Strict laws should also be implemented against educational institutions that fail to maintain proper functioning due to a lackadaisical approach,” they suggested. 

 The SWO team also met with Bordumsa ADC Oling Lego later in the day and informed him about their findings. In response, Lego  promised to look into the matter and take action.  

Lego said that he would direct the school principal to ensure that no such bullying happens again in the future. He also promised to form an inquiry committee as soon as possible to find appropriate solutions to the problems. 

 The Singpho Women Organisation (SWO), India, led by its President Pisilu Singpho, SWO Secretary General and APWWS CEC advisor Pinna Kitnal M Singpho, and APWWS Miao Unit president Nitu Singpho (who also serves as SWO Treasurer) was part of the team.