Outrage in Tamil Nadu: Student Forced to Sit Outside for Exams Due to Menstruation
Incident Sparks Outrage in Coimbatore
A student from Swamy Chidbhavanda Matric Higher Secondary School in Senguttaipalayam was made to take her exams outside the classroom on April 7 and April 9.
Coimbatore Incident: A disturbing event has emerged from Tamil Nadu, where an eighth-grade girl was compelled to sit outside during her exams at a private school near Kinathukadavu taluk. This occurred shortly after she began menstruating.
Viral Video Highlights the Issue
The girl, who started her period on April 5, was made to sit outside during her Science exam on April 7 and again for her Social Science exam on April 9. After learning about the situation, her mother rushed to the school, witnessed the discrimination firsthand, and recorded a video that quickly gained traction on social media, leading to widespread outrage.
Watch the Viral Video Here
A class 8 student who recently attained puberty was allegedly made to write her examinations outside the classroom at a private matriculation school in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district. The girl began menstruating on April 5. On April 7, during her Science exam, and again during… pic.twitter.com/r841RLwUrx
— Pinky Rajpurohit 🇮🇳 (@Madrassan_Pinky) April 10, 2025
A class 8 student who recently attained puberty was allegedly made to write her examinations outside the classroom at a private matriculation school in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district. The girl began menstruating on April 5. On April 7, during her Science exam, and again during… pic.twitter.com/r841RLwUrx
— Pinky Rajpurohit 🇮🇳 (@Madrassan_Pinky) April 10, 2025
Calls for Accountability
Following the incident, the girl's mother has reached out to education authorities, and local residents plan to meet with the Pollachi sub-collector to demand accountability from the school administration.
Coimbatore District Collector Pawankumar G Giriappanavar confirmed that the Coimbatore Rural Police have initiated an investigation. The Inspector of Matriculation Schools has been instructed to provide a comprehensive report. The collector assured that if the school is found culpable, strict measures will be enforced.
Background and Reactions: Activists advocating for Dalit rights have condemned this incident, labeling it a severe breach of the student's dignity and indicative of entrenched social biases.
One activist remarked, "This situation reflects not only gender discrimination but also caste discrimination. The school must be held responsible." The Tamil Nadu education department is anticipated to release an official statement after reviewing the inspector's findings. Meanwhile, this incident has ignited a broader conversation regarding menstrual stigma and caste discrimination within educational settings.