Form controversy: Haryana schools say they received a communication from the education department
School admission forms that ask whether parents are "engaged in any unclean occupation" has generated shockwaves in Haryana. The
100-point form also asks whether parents have any genetic disorder, along with a long list.
Students have also been asked to give their parents' Aadhaar numbers, religion and caste details.
The state's BJP government and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar have been accused of "racial and religious profiling" through these forms by the opposition Congress.
"Khattar Govt does it again. Students labelled as 'untouchables' & their parents occupation as 'unclean'. Height of insanity is the kind of pvt info of parents being sought. Calling vocation of parents unclean is absurd," he said.
The two-page form was given by private schools to students across Haryana, including those in Gurugram and Panchkula.
State government officials declined any knowledge of the form, which carries the Haryana government's official logo, according to news agency IANS.
A state government official spokesman said it was not clear who issued the form.
Private school authorities, in their communication to parents, have made it clear that the information was being sought by the state education department and not by the school.
"This is to inform you that we have received the attached format from the Education Department to be filled in by parents of all Haryana schools. Please note that the information being sought is not for school records but for use by the Government of Haryana. There are some mandatory fields that are marked with the * (star) symbol.
The fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory for students to fill
"In order to facilitate an easy flow of data from the parent to the school, we have created a Google link given below. You are requested to open the link, fill the details and submit the same to the school by April 16. Your early action will be greatly appreciated," the communication from one of the schools stated.
The students are being asked for their religion in the forms among other details
"Asking details of religion and caste is appalling. If parents come from different religions, like Hindu and Sikh marriages are common in the region, what religion will the child mention. Moreover, why do they need bank account details of the student?" a harassed parent in Gurugram asked.