Sex abuse in the name of free education crashes dreams of poor nursing aspirants

In a horrifying incident reported in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, 34-year-old Kalaimani has attracted the attention of the judiciary after he was named in a sex scam involving poor nursing aspirants. According to an exclusive report by the New Indian Express, the man is said to be running private medical studies institute-Sathya Institute Of Paramedical Sciences-offering free education to students from poor backgrounds.

The institute every year attracts students who wish to pursue higher education for free in nursing and medical science by distributing flyers. This way, it has already amassed close to 150 students. However, the real picture came to light when eight students from the current batch approached the personal secretary general Anusiya Devi with a complaint that Kalaimani forced them to do internships in private houses where they were sexually abused and raped. They also alleged that the four-months internship also required them to do all household chores at their employers' home. They further added that Kalaimani took away their salaries stating that it was the price the girls had to pay for the free education he provided them.

According to the New Indian Express, the institute has been functioning under Kalaimani for the past eight years and offers a lucrative 2-year Diploma in Medical Assistance (DMA) that would fetch the students a certificate that would enable them to work as assistants in hospitals, ambulances and private homes.

However, there is more to it that meets the eye. While the complainants appreciate the way they are being treated at the institute and the efficacy of the curriculum, they say thay Kalaimani often barges into the classrooms in a drunk state and use filthy language while addressing the students. He is also said to have called them individually and is alleged to have of groped and misbehaved with them in front of the entire classroom. He would often say that he 'wanted to ease the burden with conversation'. 

At the end of the course, the students were taken to Chennai where they are enrolled by Kalaimani as private nurses in various hospitals. He is alleged to have forced them to go to private homes where they often live in pitiable conditions, subject to torture and rape. 

According to one of the complainants, when they threatened Kalaimani of action, he allegedly warned them of being thrown out of the institute and withholding their qualification certificates submitted during the admission. Speaking to Express, Kalaimani, however, denied all allegations and said that he was forced to accept all internship offers that came his way since the institute was facing financial difficulties for the past two years. 

• tamil nadu
• south
• nursing
• students
• sex abuse