Govt. of West Bengal

Office of the W.B. Commission for Women

10, Rainey Park, Kolkata – 700 019

Ph: 2474-5608/ 2486-5324

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PRESS RELEASE 

Press Note on the matter of dress code at Sarisha Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Mandir High School 

Five teachers from Sarisha Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Mandir High School, namely, Jhuma Dutta, Munmun Chakraborty, Nivedita Roy, Manideepa Sahoo and Jayashree Mitra, made a complaint at the West Bengal Commission for Women regarding the harassment and violence they allegedly faced from some of their colleagues, some guardians and other local people for breaking an unwritten dress code that was being followed at the school for several years. It may be mentioned here that the West Bengal Government, by which the school is aided, has said categorically that there is no dress code for teachers in government schools or government-aided schools in West Bengal. Apparently, the authorities of Belur Math have also said that no dress code needs to be observed at the school. In spite of that, when the five teachers went to school on 11.12.08 without observing the so-called dress code, they became the target of insult and harassment so that ultimately they had to be rescued  by the police. They have not been able to go back to their school because there is no assurance from the school authorities and the local administration that the incident will not be repeated. Further, although the school is being remitted funds by the Government under salary head, the teachers have not been getting their salary from the school for the last two months. 

      The West Bengal Commission for Women has been in communication with the School Education Minister and the school authorities over this matter. But so far they have not been able to give the teachers the assurance that they will be able to attend school with security and dignity. The West Bengal Commission for Women is deeply concerned that this totally regressive incident should happen in a school in West Bengal. West Bengal Commission for Women is of the opinion that the matter of dress should be left to the choice of the employees. Whether one wears a particular colour or not, or whether one prefers one kind of dress over another, does not affect in any way academic and disciplinary standards at an educational institution. While we are urging upon both the Government and the school authorities to ensure that the teachers may return to their workplace at the earliest with security and dignity, we are also appealing to public opinion not to give in to this kind of retrograde mentality and to come out in the support of the five teachers. 

                                                      Sd/-

                                              (DR. MALINI BHATTACHARYA)

                                                      Chairperson,

                                            West Bengal Commission for Women.