In a village located within the Tenkasi district, the Hindu residents are resisting the idea of sending their children to a government-aided primary school due to allegations of attempts at conversion to Christianity since March 2023. 

Acchankuttam is a village situated close to Surandai in the Veerakeralampudur taluk of Tenkasi district in Tamil Nadu. At this village, there is a government-aided TDTA Primary School managed by the Tirunelveli District Trust Association (TDTA) under the administration of Tirunelveli CSI Diocese.

Hindu parents residing in Acchankuttam village, who ceased sending over 100 students to a nearby government-aided primary school in March due to concerns about Christian religious preaching, organised a demonstration in Veerakeralampudur on August 7th, 2023. 

The residents of Acchankuttam village have leveled allegations against the school administration, claiming that they are attempting to convert the students attending this institution.

Consequently, the pupils from Acchankuttam who were enrolled in this school have declined to continue attending since March 2023. Their parents procured transfer certificates for them. These parents have appealed to the district collector and the education department to establish a government school in Acchankuttam. As of now, over 150 students have withdrawn from the school.

Parents allege that their children are being involved in prayer activities.

Formerly, the school was situated in the heart of the town. However, it was recently moved to a new structure slightly north of the town to accommodate expansion requirements. It’s only after this relocation that issues like these have emerged, as stated by Azhagu Muthu from the town of Acchankuttam.

Speaking to BBC Tamil, she said,

“My husband Subramaniam works as a labourer. I work at a beedi factory. Till last year, my eldest daughter studied in the 4th standard, youngest daughter in the 3rd standard, and son in 1st standard at this school. After the school moved to a new location in the north of the town, the children’s behaviour began to change. If I asked them to pray, they said we will “do jabam” (as Christians say). The change in the way the children spoke and behaved alarmed us. We did not send our children to that school after that for fear that they would change their religion,” she said.

Azhagumuthu also added that she went to the same school as a child for education. “Not only me but most people in our village got their primary education in this school. There were no such problems then,” she said.

Acchankuttam village is home to approximately 1000 families. The majority of the residents are Hindus, while a minority follow Christianity.

Following the relocation of this government-aided school, which has been operational for over half a century, the school’s administration decided to construct a church on the premises of the former school. However, the town’s inhabitants objected to this decision and staged a protest. As a result, the protesters were detained by the police and subsequently released.

The village has only one government-aided primary school in the town centre. There is another school located approximately 6 kilometers away.

Residents feel it is impractical for their children to travel such a distance all by themselves and they urge the authorities to establish a government school within their village.

Soundar Raj, a resident who works as a driver and has a son studying in standard 1 of the school in question spoke to BBC Tamil. He said,

“There is an issue of conversion at the school. Students are forced to buy books about Christianity. The way they teach is also not all that good either. So I did not send my son to that school. A government school should be established in our town. That is the permanent solution to our problem,” says Soundar Raj.

He further mentioned that the primary school in question currently has fewer than 20 students.

The residents of Acchankuttam have formally appealed for the establishment of a dedicated government school. Tenkasi District Chief Education Officer Muthiah said he will prepare and submit a comprehensive report to the education department. He also stated that while the government will make the final decision regarding the setting up of a school, the locals have been advised to enroll their children in any school of their preference. Muthiah emphasized that parents should refrain from obtaining transfer certificates and discouraging enrollment in other schools.

Tenkasi Revenue Commissioner Lavanya denied the conversion claims and stated that the complaint made by the residents is ‘not true’. She stated that the demands of the residents have been sent to the government and that children should not be kept away from school until the demands are considered. 

She also stated that a notice has been sent to the parents stating that action will be taken against them under the Compulsory Education Act if they do not send the children to school. The district administration held talks with the people of Acchankuttam, advising them to transfer dropout students to other schools and provide necessary transport facilities.