'Homework' kills 11 year old in Nagpur

Nagpur, Jan 5: Fear of not completing homework cost her life to Pallavi Uchitkar. 11-year-old Pallavi attempted suicide on Dec 30, 2008 burning herself over some homework left incomplete. She succumbed to her burns on Saturday, Jan 3.

A bright student of Sindhu Girls High School in Jaipatka of Orissa, Pallavi, a class 6 student excelled in academics. She was a fine public speaker, debater, singer and dancer. She was recipient of many prizes for her talents.

On Dec 27, Uchitkar family had to attend a wedding. Out of the four daughters, Pallavi alone refused to go as she was worried about her studies. "I was worried over having to leave Pallavi alone, and hence took her along anyway," said Pallavi's mother. Upon return from Saoner where the wedding took place, the tired family slept and the girls missed a day at school. Because she could not complete her homework Pallavi ended her life.

Are our children not able to withstand the fierce competition happening around them? Are they overburden with the huge expectation of parents? Pallavi's and many such other incidents point to this fact.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)