In an unfortunate incident, a seven year old HIV+ boy has been forced to drop out of his school in a suburb of Kolkata.
The boy's mother voluntarily informed the principal of his HIV+ status immediately after having him tested in January this year. At the time the principal was cooperative and said that the boy could continue his studies.
However, in June the principal changed his mind after pressure from other parents. The boy was not allowed to attend the private nursery school, which is in the South 24 Parganas district adjoining Kolkata, since then.
Incidentally, both the boy's parents are also HIV+. The mother works with an NGO that raises public awareness about the disease.
The boy's grandmother, who teaches Bengali in the same school, was also coerced into undergoing a HIV test in order to retain her job. She tested negative for the virus.
The principal has claimed that he was not against the boy attending the school. "I want him to attend school but the parents are not sending him. But it is true that over 100 guardians signed a petition and submitted to me for Shaan's removal from the school," he told the Times of India.
However, after the incident came into the public domain, the principal has reportedly reconsidered his stand because of political pressure.
The boy's mother said that the school has decided to reinstate him from Thursday.
