Girls as young as 13 in Maharashtra’s tribal Ashram schools were reportedly made to take pregnancy tests before returning from holidays. After the Pola festival break, girls above 13 were seen queuing at government hospitals in Ghoti and Kalwan (Nashik district), where they received “Medical Fitness Certificates” stamped “Pregnancy Negative”.
Students reportedly called the process embarrassing and said it was repeated every time they came back from leave. Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike has denied that pregnancy tests are being done, saying only medical check-ups are conducted, while rights groups call it an insult to tribal dignity and are demanding clarity from the government. Similar allegations had surfaced earlier in Pune and Thane too.
