SUSHMA COMES TO PAK GIRL’S AID

SUSHMA COMES TO PAK GIRL’S AID

Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to grant a 16-year-old Pakistani girl admission in a government school in Sanjay Colony.On September 7, The Hindu had reported on Madhu’s struggle for education for which she had written to Mr. Kejriwal. Following the report, Ms. Swaraj invited Madhu to her residence on Saturday evening.Madhu had come to India with her family two years ago after fleeing religious persecution in Pakistan’s Punjab. All her necessary documents, such as the school leaving certificate, were, however, left behind.Consequently, when her family approached the government school in her neighbourhood for her admission in Class IX, they were turned down.

“When we went to the school, they told us she was ‘overage’. Then they asked for a transfer certificate, but we had left the same in Pakistan. The school then asked for her Aadhaar card. When we got that made, they asked for other documents,” says Jevar, Madhu’s uncle. Advocate and activist Ashok Agarwal had also written to Mr. Kejriwal seeking intervention in the matter.After Ms. Swaraj invited Madhu, Mr. Agarwal tweeted, “thanks sushmaji for taking up the cause of Madhu. Consider her case for admission in KV (Kendriya Vidyalaya).”

Prof. John Kurakar