Dressed up as a valiant soldier, mentally challenged little Karabi Sarma was excited about singing a patriotic song with her classmates at the annual function of her school here, when her teacher told her to get out. The eight-year-old girl was driven away to the backyard of the auditorium.

Karabi’s parents began worrying when she did not feature in the song she had dressed up for.

When they asked the teachers and the principal of the play school in Maligaon area they were given evasive replies.

They finally found her standing forlorn in the backyard, Anju Talukdar, project coordinator of the Disability Law Unit of Shisu Sarothi, a premier spastic organisation here, said.

Hurt by the humiliation meted out to their child by the school, the parents brought the matter to the Disability Law unit.

This prompted the law unit, which takes up such cases of discrimination, to send a legal notice to the school asking them to explain their position, Talukdar said.

The school apologised to the Disability Law Unit saying its action was not intentional and promised action against the teacher, she said.

Keen to rectify the damage done to Karabi and the community of disabled children, the school also agreed to provide training to its faculty to sensitise them about the rights of children and the Persons with Disabilities Act, under which no child with disability shall be discriminated against.