Hard Truth

Walking into my parlour this week were two kids.

One about fourteen and the other twelve.

Their father, a watchman, had lost his job some time ago

They came to ask me to help them stay in school.

They're Nepali kids. Brahmins, not dalits. their father made the mistake of dreaming too high. He got his elder daughter an education in Notre Dame Academy, where he himself was the watchman.

In 2005, just as his daughter was about to sit for her Class nine finals, the man, victim of undue harrassment by the principal, was forced to appeal to the labour court for justice. At the first opportunity - and that came when the school fees were delayed - the girl was brutally beaten by the principal, the late Sister Jayshree, and kicked out of school. Even though there was gross violation of norms by the principal, the poor man could not get his case heard, even though a doctor had certified that the bruises were because of the beating. the reason was that the District magistrate at that time, had a daughter studying in the school. The local Tv stations brokethe story in 2005, when the man went to appeal for justice to the Chief minister. By the time the order to reinstate the child was put into motion, but never actually delivered to the school, it was too late... anyhow, the girl has appeared through open CBSE. The case is now in the labour courts.

The reality is this. The father is still without a regular job, trying his best to make two ends meet.

School fees haven't been paid since March this year, the boys are in Loyola School.

I wrote to the Principal of Loyola school, asking him to keep the boys on till October, by which time, i'd try to scrape up some money and get sponsors for the kids.

Right now, the bill is about rs 6,000.

The boys' fees will come to rs 450 each per month.

I'd be happy to have some help with this.

Is there anyone out there who can help?