This story is from July 22, 2007

Students felt humiliated in school

TNN / Jul 22, 2007, 00:00 IST

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Students whose private parts were examined during a 'medical test' at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya are still in a state of shock....

Students whose private parts were examined during a 'medical test' at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya are still in a state of shock....Students whose private parts were examined during a 'medical test' at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya are still in a state of shock....Students whose private parts were examined during a 'medical test' at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya are still in a state of shock....doweshowbellyad=0;

Medical examination leaves students in a state of shock (TOI Photo)
Students whose private parts were examined during a ‘medical test’ at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya are still in a state of shock...
Sumit Singh, Class IX student
“The announcement of the tests was not done in the morning assembly, as claimed by the school. Instead we were told by our teachers. I felt very awkward when the doctor asked me to take off my trousers. He touched my private parts and asked me not to feel strange, as it was the only way of detecting hernia. He said that these diseases need to be detected early. Some of my juniors started crying when they were asked to strip. I was too shy to ask my teachers and my parents if this is the right way of conducting the tests.”

Amit Jain, Class X student
“When teachers told us that this test was different from the routine medical check-ups, I had no clue it will be so humiliating. The doctor asked me to strip and touched my private parts and the lower abdomen for at least 4-5 minutes. The doctor was not even wearing gloves and had examined many of my classmates before me. He even jokingly asked me if I touch my private parts too often. My parents are really angry since they were not even consulted before the tests were scheduled.”

Amit’s father says, “The school authorities did not deem it necessary to consult the parents about the school being a part of a survey. Our children are not guinea pigs and such tests can ruin a child psychologically”.
Uday Sheth, Class XII student
“I saw a Class VIII student who came out crying from the room where the tests were being done and I decided that I did not want to undergo the test. I told my class teacher that I will take the test on Wednesday and told my parents about it. My father wrote a letter stating that they did not want me to undergo the test. Those who took the test do not want to talk about it now. Teachers are also not discussing it now. Our seniors are making fun of us and are asking very indecent questions about the medical examination.”
Nikhil Chanda, Class IX student
“This is my first year in this school and I did not think twice about the test because teachers told us that these tests happen every year. When the doctor asked me to strip, I refused. He then told me that without checking my private parts, the tests will not be complete and he will not be able to tell if I have some disease. I finally gave in. He constantly engaged me in conversation and touched me all over. Only after my father read about it in the papers, I told him that I had undergone the test as well. He plans to take action now.”
(Names have been changed to protect the identities of students)

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