She also alleged the college was taking various grants and donations from abroad, projecting it as a charity institution, but failed to provide information on its revenue records. “We have come to know the college has shown in the balance sheets that it has been giving dental kits worth Rs 2 lakh to each intern. The funds actually went to the trustees’ personal accounts,” she alleged. These charges, too, were denied by the college.

A few other students present at the press conference said girls were asked to come to the college with clean and waxed arms, while the married ones were not allowed to wear ‘choora’. They also alleged that girls were not allowed to wear jeans. The principal denied the first charge, but admitted to the second one, saying girls were not allowed to wear jeans “for their own welfare”.

Various other personalities and organisations have, meanwhile, extended support to Manraj. They include Sudesh Ahlawat, former principal of BBK DAV College for Girls, Amritsar, H S Sandhu, Baba Ishar Singh (Nanaksar) Education Trust, Bhupinder Singh Bedi, vice president of Customs and Central Excise Gazetted Officers Association and Brigadier J S Sarai of All India Ex-Servicemen Movement among others.

While Ahlawat termed it as an unfortunate revelation in an education institute, Brig Sarai demanded an inquiry into the alleged exploitation of girl students.

On April 10, when the college held its first convocation ceremony, Manraj and other interns had protested before the alumni and the current students, bringing to fore the issue pertaining to the non-payment of stipend to interns.

... contd.