12-year-old schoolgirl kills herself over menstruation shame

pulse-ghana admin

September 4, 2017 12:49 PM

She accused the teacher in her suicide note of consistently "torturing" her.

An Indian schoolgirl who could not withstand the humiliation meted out to her by the teacher for menstruating has killed herself.

The 12-year -old from southern India was allegedly embarrassed when her teacher asked her to leave the classroom following a blood stain on her dress resulting from menstruation.

The deceased accused the teacher in a suicide note of “torturing” her.

It is far from clear whether the alleged “torturing” the deceased accused her teacher of is connected to the humiliation she was subjected to. However, the mother alleged that her daughter was asked to leave the class because of the blood stain.

Menstruation is taboo in India. Women are traditionally believed to be impure or even cursed during their periods.

The country’s Police said they have registered a case of suicide and are investigating the incident which took place early on Sunday in Tirunelveli district in the state of Tamil Nadu.

A part of the student’s suicide note reads “I do not know why my teacher is making complaints against me. I still can’t understand why they are harassing and torturing me like this.”

The deceased began the note by asking for her mother’s forgiveness, saying “Amma [mother], please forgive me.”

Her bereaved mother accused the teacher of having beaten her daughter in the past for not doing her homework, an accusation which is suggestive of prejudice against the student.

”My daughter got her periods while she was in school last Saturday, and when she informed the teacher, she was given a duster cloth to use as a pad and the teacher made my daughter stand outside the class. How can a 12-year-old withstand such humiliation?” the heartbroken mother quizzed.

pulse-ghana admin