‘Phool tumhe bheja hai khat mein, phool nahin mera dil’:Principal sends ‘I Love You’ message to female teacher; she says feels uncomfortable visiting his cabin

In Narmadapuram, a middle-aged school principal is under investigation for allegedly harassing female teachers. He reportedly sent an ‘I Love You’ message to a female teacher, quoting the Hindi film song “Phool Tumhe Bheja Hai Khat Mein” and asked her to reply with yes or no. He also made her promise not to tell anyone. The harassment reportedly began when the teacher addressed the principal like a father. After the woman complained to the District Education Officer, an investigation team visited the school. During the inquiry, eight more female teachers accused the principal of harassment in different forms. The Dainik Bhaskar team reached the school to talk about the principal who sent such messages to the female teacher, where everyone expressed their pain, read the report… The team reached PM Shri High School Hathwas, located in Pipariya, Narmadapuram district. Here, they talked about Principal Suresh Srivastava, who sent messages to a female teacher on WhatsApp. Teachers said – this is not the first case of the principal harassing and exploiting a woman. He has harassed a female teacher before as well. One teacher even complained to his wife, but nothing happened due to his high connections. The principal’s way of talking is also not good. He insults senior teachers in front of students and juniors. He used to pressure primary and middle school teachers to teach high school students. When they don’t listen, they try to humiliate them by sending messages on the school’s WhatsApp group and personal messages. They don’t miss any opportunity to torture. They threaten with the Education Minister, saying ‘I will get you transferred’. However, when the team asked the teachers to speak openly in front of the camera, they did not agree. In general conversation, everyone expressed their pain. A female teacher even said that she feels uncomfortable going inside the principal’s office alone. Before proceeding, read… The message sent by the principal to the female teacher Principal Suresh Srivastava sent a few lines from a film song to a female teacher on WhatsApp on the night of September 5. These lines were – ‘I have sent you a flower in a letter, it’s not a flower but my heart’ You look very good. I love you ….. and you, I need your answer in yes or no. The next message read – You are the most trustworthy person in school, don’t tell anyone. By the way, you are a teacher, you must have understood my feelings. Swear you won’t tell anyone, then I will express my feelings. Then the message read – I had sent something for you two days ago, you didn’t react to it. No problem, don’t worry and be happy. The principal didn’t stop there, he sent some more messages to the teacher’s WhatsApp. The female teacher replied to the principal’s WhatsApp in one line – You are like my father. After this message from the female teacher, the principal’s anger flared up. He started harassing the female teacher by scolding and reprimanding her in various ways. Disturbed by the principal’s actions, the female teacher lodged a written complaint with the Pipariya BEO and the District Education Officer on September 17. Even after serious allegations were made by the female teacher, the officers did not show seriousness in the matter for 9 days. When the matter reached the media, the education department hastily formed a three-member committee on September 26 and sent it to the school for investigation. The team stayed here for about 2 hours, investigated, and returned. After this, the DEO sent a proposal for the principal’s suspension to the JD. However, no action has been taken against Principal Suresh Srivastava so far. Now read, the pain of teachers troubled by the principal’s harassment… 1. They humiliate us in front of students and juniors A senior female and male teacher said – “We have been teaching for about 35 years. We have also worked with other principals, but what can we say about Principal Suresh Srivastava? His way of talking to teachers is not even proper. Principal Srivastava insults us whenever and wherever he feels like, without even considering whether he is scolding us in front of students or junior staff. When he scolds us in front of students, what respect will those people give us?” 2. Complained to the Principal’s wife after a dispute The female teacher said – “The principal’s behavior is very bad. Many times he talks to teachers in an agitated manner. A few months ago, he spoke to me in the same way. This led to a dispute between him and me. After this, I went to his house. There, I complained about the principal to his wife, Anita Srivastava. His wife also expressed embarrassment over Principal Srivastava’s actions.” 3. They create pressure to teach in high school classes PM Shri Integrated High School has students from primary to 10th grade. There are teachers for all subjects here, yet the principal has given one teacher the responsibility for scholarships for students from 1st to 10th grade, ICT lab in-charge, and U-DISE in-charge. The teacher says that despite all this work, they still put pressure on her to teach high school students separately. They say – if the results are bad, I will take action. 4. The principal reprimands if you don’t like, comment, or congratulate A senior female teacher said – There is a school WhatsApp group where school information is shared. When posts related to a teacher’s or student’s achievements or birthdays are shared in the group, they are congratulated and wished well. If someone does not congratulate, wish well, or express happiness on the group, the principal asks why they didn’t. They are reprimanded even for not doing so. 5. Female Teachers Uncomfortable Entering Principal’s Office When asked about going to the principal’s office for work, all female teachers appeared uncomfortable. They said – the principal’s office does not have transparent glass. The room’s window also remains completely closed. The glass in the door is one-way, so we feel uncomfortable going into the principal’s office. The attendance register is kept in a temporary staff room created by putting up plywood outside the principal’s office, where everyone signs. DEO asked female teachers about the problem in a closed room The female teacher had complained about the principal to Pipariya BEO and the District Education Officer on September 17. Department officials took the serious matter lightly. On September 20, Principal Suresh Srivastava went on medical leave. After the matter came to light, the team arrived to investigate on September 26. As the principal was not found, he could not be interrogated. Meanwhile, the DEO asked the female teachers about the problem in a closed room. The team found the allegations made by the teacher to be true. Female teachers do not need to go to the Principal’s room The DEO held a meeting of the school staff. A female teacher said – there is no transparent glass on the main gate of the principal’s office. Nothing is visible inside from the current gate. The DEO instructed to install transparent glass. He said that female teachers will not need to go to the principal’s room to apply for leave. The DEO asked to improve the spending of funds received by the school on education as per rules. He also advised to keep the CCTV cameras in working order. Teachers said – Principal’s wife is a BJP leader, they threaten with transfer Principal Suresh Srivastava’s wife Anita Srivastava is a BJP leader. She is the General Secretary of Pipariya BJP Nagar Mandal. She used to be a Member of Parliament’s representative when School Education Minister Rao Udaypratap was the Hoshangabad MP. The school staff mentioned in a written complaint that the principal harasses all female teachers. He threatens to get them transferred by instilling fear of the Education Minister. People say that the principal is doing all this due to political patronage. Before becoming a high school principal, Srivastava was a teacher in a girls’ school. Before becoming the principal at PM Shri High School, Hathwas, Suresh Srivastava was a teacher at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Pipariya. Srivastava has worked in Pipariya throughout his career so far. The staff of the old school also says that Srivastava’s nature has been like this before. No one openly complained or protested in the girls’ school, which is why his audacity grew. Proposal sent to JD, Commissioner will suspend According to the investigation report, prima facie, the allegations made by the teacher have been found to be true. In addition to the victim teacher, 8 other female teachers of the school have also accused the principal of harassment. Based on the investigation report, the District Education Officer has sent a proposal to the Narmadapuram Joint Director to suspend Principal Suresh Srivastava. The power of suspension rests with the Divisional Commissioner, so the Narmadapuram Commissioner will now look into this matter. Wife and BJP leader did not answer the call Teachers allege that Principal Suresh Srivastava’s wife, Anita Srivastava, is a BJP leader. The principal also threatens using this power. Dainik Bhaskar tried to talk to Anita Srivastava about this, but she did not receive the call. Principal was called to present his side, but did not come During the District Education Officer’s school inspection, the principal was called to record his statement. In the matter, Block Education Officer SL Raghuwanshi said that Principal Suresh Srivastava was called by phone to record his statement. He was given time several times, but even after the whole day passed, he did not come to the BEO office. ​