Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A 29-year-old teacher in Kerala, India, who reportedly went unpaid for five years, was found dead in her home in Kozhikode, raising serious concerns about workplace exploitation in the education sector. The deceased, identified as Aleena Benny, worked at a lower primary school in Kodanchery. Her father claimed that Aleena had been struggling emotionally due to financial distress after being forced to sign an affidavit relinquishing her salary at her previous school. Reports indicate that Benny's salary during her tenure at her former school was allegedly covered by contributions from her fellow teachers. Her family also claimed that they had paid Rs 13 lakh (Dh57,000) to the school management for her initial appointment, believing she would secure a permanent position. Benny was later transferred to another school in Kodanchery, which was 25 kilometers from her home. She had been commuting daily to her workplace for the past year. On the day of the incident, her colleagues attempted to contact her but received no response. Concerned, they informed her father, who found her hanging in her room around 3pm. Her sudden death has sparked outrage, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding her employment and salary dispute. Allegations of workplace exploitation and financial burden on teachers have gained traction, with social activists calling for a thorough investigation. Local authorities are expected to launch an inquiry into the claims made by Aleena’s family regarding the affidavit and the financial arrangements at her previous school. Education officials have also pledged to examine the alleged mismanagement of teacher salaries in private institutions. ICA/Expat Media
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