NIVH director resigns after allegations of sexual harassment against teacher

The director of Dehradun's National Institute for Visually Handicapped, Anuradha Dalmia, resigned following allegations of sexual harassment against a music teacher of the institute by girl students, officials said today.

She resigned last evening after the Uttarakhand Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Usha Negi visited the institute to conduct an investigation.

The resignation comes nearly a week after the students began an agitation accusing their music teacher of touching them improperly and demanding his arrest. They also sought the director's removal whom they charged with protecting the accused.

The UCPCR chairperson, in whose presence the NIVH director submitted her resignation, said Dalmiya had done it of her own accord.

"There was no pressure on her from us. She resigned on her own as she felt it was pointless continuing in office when the children had lost confidence in her," Negi said replying to a question.

Asked about her findings, the UCPCR chairperson refused to divulge any details.

"It would be too early to say anything in definite terms. The allegations are of a sensitive nature and still under probe. We have to get to their root. All I can say at the moment is there is certainly something wrong somewhere," she said.

Negi, who spent about 10 hours talking to students and the director, said there was a communication gap between the students and the institute's administration as the children had a number of complaints which need to be addressed.

The commission recommended constitution of a coordination committee which would work as a bridge between the institute's administration and its pupils, the UCPCR chairperson said.

However, the agitation by the NIVH students continued and they said they would not withdraw it until she was replaced.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with the accused music teacher's suspension, saying it was not enough.