Why does this Kerala school have only Dalit students?

Kerala, which claims to be the most literate state in India, is still to break caste barriers. Despite several efforts from Education Department, not a single non-Dalit enrolled at Government Welfare LP School at Perambra, this year. 

The school provides best amenities, including smart classrooms and pedagogy park for kids, but no child belonging to upper caste has studied in the school for over a decade. Only four students enrolled in Class I this year, and all of them belong to Sambava community. 

The total strength of the school is only 14, and all students belong to Dalit communities. 

Majority students who joined Kizhinjyanam LP School, almost 100 meters from here, which lack basic facilities. However, parents are not ready to enrol their kids in Welfare School stating caste issues. 

Campaigns organised by Grama panchayat and Sasthra Sahitya Parishat was of no use. Minister T P Ramakrishnan had called for a meeting and asked people living nearby to send their children to Welfare School. Every year teachers visit nearby houses and try to convince parents to send their children to the school, but the parents are not ready to let their kids share seats with Sambava students. 

The situation was different earlier, with several non-Dalit students studying here. However, it all started after more number of students from nearby Chermala colony started joining the school. Over 50 families belonging to Sambava community resides in this settlement, which lacks basic infrastructure, including sanitation. Authorities believe that improving the living conditions of the colony might help attract more students and change the status of the school 
 

• Dalit students
• Perambra school
• Casteism