Jaipur’s Neerja Modi School is facing scrutiny after a nine-year-old student, Amaira Kumar Meena, died by suicide on November 1. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) investigation found that Amaira had been subjected to persistent bullying for nearly 18 months, and repeated requests for help were ignored by her teachers.

Day of the Tragedy

On the morning of her death, Amaira appeared happy, interacting with classmates and enjoying snacks. Trouble began after she was disturbed by classmates on a digital slate. She asked repeatedly for the content to be removed and even wrote something herself, requesting its erasure. The CBSE report noted: “The teacher’s intervention was very much needed.” Despite her repeated pleas, her class teacher, Puneeta Sharma, did not provide support. CCTV footage showed that she approached her teacher five times over 45 minutes seeking help. The report states: “Instead of supporting her, Puneeta Ma’am dismissed the problem. She was seen shouting multiple times and said things that ‘shocked the entire class’.”

Feeling cornered and distressed, Amaira left her ground-floor classroom and climbed to the fourth floor, where she jumped to her death.

History of Bullying

The CBSE probe detailed multiple incidents over the previous 18 months:

• In October, a classmate misrepresented Amaira’s greeting “hello” as “I love you,” causing her humiliation.

• In May 2024, a student made an obscene gesture toward her; the teacher did not respond.

• In July, another student allegedly hit her, leading to an audio recording in which Amaira told her mother: “Mumma, I don’t want to go to school. Everyone troubles me… Please get me out of here. Get me admitted to another school.”

Repeated complaints by her parents were dismissed, often with instructions that Amaira should “adjust with other kids.” The report concludes that the school failed to maintain a safe environment, and preventive measures against bullying were not implemented.

Safety Lapses on Campus

The investigation also uncovered serious safety failures. No floor attendants were on duty, CCTV feeds were not actively monitored, students were not wearing ID cards, and upper floors lacked protective nets. Moreover, the area where Amaira fell was washed before forensic analysis, potentially destroying crucial evidence.

Bright Student, System Failure

Amaira’s teachers and parents described her as a “bright, friendly, cheerful student and an All-Rounder winner.” The CBSE report attributes her death to “teacher’s non-response, lack of hearing and absence of empathy/sensitivity to problems. If she would have intervened at first place the problem could not have reach to this magnitude.”

CBSE Action

Following these findings, the CBSE has issued a notice to the school management, asking for a detailed response within 30 days regarding the negligence, safety lapses, and violations of child protection norms.