Youth panel finds gender bias in Farook College

KOZHIKODE: The primary investigation of the Youth Commission over the gender discrimination issue at Farook College has stated that the institution was discriminating among students based on their sex.

A delegation of the Commission visited the college following a complaint filed by a few students, based on which the commission after its primary investigation stated that the institution, in many of its practices towards students, was segregating them on sex.

The team led by the youth commission Chairman Advocate R V Rajesh and the commission Secretary D Shaji, visited the institution for the primary inquiry. 

According to the commission, the “unsatisfactory” report filed by the college management when enquiries were made following the complaint, led to it straightaway conducting its investigation.

The commission gathered evidence from Dinu K, the first year sociology student of Farook College, who was suspended from the institution for raising his voice against the practice of gender discrimination.

The commission also talked to more than 300 students in individual and groups as well as the teachers, PTA members and principal of the college as part of the inquiry.

“After talking to the suspended student and a few students from the institution, it has been noted that the students face issues of gender discrimination in many ways, which is not an allowable practice in an educational institution”, said the commission Chairman.

“Since we have conducted only the primary inquiry, more details will be available after the completion of the inquiry and based on which actions will be taken”, he pointed out. He added, “the priority of the students’ rights are always more important than any other practices in an institution”.

The Farook college authorities on October 20 asked parents of eight students who had protested against the rules prohibiting boys and girls sitting together on the campus to meet the authorities and apologize for what their wards did.

While seven of them complied, Dinu’s parents refused to toe the line. This was followed by his suspension from the institution.

Many social organizations including Anweshi, Penkoottu and various other women’s organization spilled over to the street demanding the withdrawal of his suspension and to stop gender discrimination practice.    

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