Dalit Teacher Suspended over REET 2025 Janeu Row—Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society Alleges Caste-Based Targeting!

Jaipur - The Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) was conducted across all districts on 27th and 28th February. However, the examination in Dungarpur district took a controversial turn when Brahmin candidates were asked to remove their sacred threads (janeu) at two examination centers.

This incident sparked outrage, leading the administration to suspend Sunita Kumari, the field supervisor at the Sunderpur examination center, who is also a lecturer at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kheda Kachhwasa. Sunita belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

The Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society has strongly opposed this action and has written to the Additional Chief Secretary of the School Education, Language, Library, and Panchayati Raj (Primary Education) Department, demanding the revocation of the suspension order.

In the letter, the society’s General Secretary, G.L. Verma, stated that the center’s incharge, Vijay Kumar Joshi, denied any such incident occurring at the center and has not made any allegations against Sunita Kumari. Verma emphasized that Sunita Kumari is a dedicated government employee from the Scheduled Caste community, and her suspension has deeply hurt the sentiments of the SC community.

Candidates Asked to Remove Janeu

On 28th February, during the entry at an examination center in Dungarpur, Brahmin candidates were asked to remove their sacred threads (janeu). A similar incident occurred at a college in Punali, where two Brahmin candidates were compelled to remove their janeu. Additionally, at the Sunderpur center, another Brahmin candidate was asked to do the same.

The candidates protested, stating that the janeu is an integral part of their culture and religion, but they were not allowed to sit for the exam unless they removed it. They were forced to hang their janeu on a nearby tree and could only wear it again after the exam concluded.

When this incident came to light, it sparked anger among the Brahmin community. Organizations like the Vipra Foundation raised the issue and demanded action from Dungarpur District Collector Ankit Kumar Singh.

The Vipra Foundation strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing that the janeu holds significant religious and cultural importance for the Brahmin community.

The foundation’s district president, Lalit Upadhyay, and general secretary, Prashant Chaubisa, submitted a memorandum to the district collector, demanding accountability. They questioned why candidates were forced to remove their janeu when the government had issued no such directive. The foundation argued that the incident reflects insensitivity towards cultural and religious practices.

Following an investigation, the administration took strict action. Sunita Kumari, the supervisor at the Sunderpur examination center and lecturer at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kheda Kachhwasa, was suspended. Additionally, Shivlal, the head constable at the Punali center, was placed on line duty.

Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society’s Stand: Targeted Due to Caste

The Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Welfare Society has alleged that Sunita Kumari was targeted because of her caste. The society’s General Secretary, G.L. Verma, stated in a conversation with The Mooknayak that this is not an isolated incident, as strict rules are often implemented during competitive exams to prevent cheating and fraud.

Verma pointed out that similar incidents, such as removing nose rings (nath) from female candidates or cutting threads tied around their wrists, have occurred in the past but did not attract as much attention. He said, “Since she is a woman and belongs to the Dalit community, she has been made a soft target. This is ridiculous. We will raise this issue in the legislative assembly.”

Are Female Teachers Becoming Easy Targets? – First Hemlata, Then Menaka!

This incident is not an isolated one. Earlier, teachers like Hemlata Bairawa from the Dalit community and Menaka Damor from the tribal community were suspended under controversial circumstances, leading to allegations that teachers are being unfairly targeted.

Hemlata Bairawa, a teacher at the Government Upper Primary School in Lakdai, Baran district, became a symbol of resistance. During a Republic Day event in 2024, she refused to place an image of Goddess Saraswati on the stage, stating, “The true goddess of education is Savitribai Phule.” Her bold stance challenged local casteist attitudes but resulted in departmental action, an FIR, and her suspension. Although she was reinstated after winning a legal battle in April, she has faced severe financial hardship due to unpaid salaries since March 2024.

Similarly, Menaka Damor, a second-grade teacher at a government school in Sadadia, Dungarpur, was suspended on 24th July 2024 for her remarks on sindoor and mangalsutra during a rally at Mangarh Dham in Banswara. Damor challenged her suspension in the Rajasthan High Court, which stayed the order, calling it “arbitrary and irregular.”

The suspensions of Hemlata, Menaka, and now Sunita Kumari have raised questions about whether female teachers from SC and ST communities, who prioritize duty and integrity over religious and caste symbols, are being unfairly targeted due to casteist and narrow-minded attitudes in Rajasthan.