Commission directs States to check corporal punishment in schools

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the State Governments to take effective steps to check incidents of corporal punishment in school.

Expressing concern over recent incidents of violence in schools, the Chairman of the Commission, Ms Shantha Sinha in a letter to Chief Secretary of State Government/UT here today said all forms of corporal punishment are a fundamental breach of human rights.

Citing direction of the Supreme Court regarding ban on Corporal punishment in schools, she has said that the onus of responsibility in safeguarding children from punishment lay with the school teachers, education administration at all levels as well as all those responsible for management equally.

Ms Sinha has directed that education departments of all the States should ensure the following: -- All children are to be informed through campaigns and publicity drives that they have a right to speak against corporal punishment and bring it to the notice of the authorities. They must be given confidence to make complaints and not accept punishment as a 'normal' activity of the school.

-- Every school, including hostels, JJ Homes, shelter homes and other public institutions meant for children must have a forum where children can express their views. Such institutions could take the help of an NGO for facilitating such an exercise.

-- Further a box where children can drop their complaints, even if anonymous has to be provided for in each school.

-- There has to be a monthly meeting of the PTAs or any other body such as the SEC/VEC to review the complaints and take action.

-- The PTAs are to be encouraged to act immediately on any complaints made by children without postponement of the issue and wait for a more grave injury to be caused. In other words the PTAs need not use their discretion to decide on the grievousness of the complaint.

-- Parents as well as children are to be empowered to speak out against corporal punishment without any fear that it would have adverse effect on children's participation in schools.

-- The education department at all levels-block, district and state are to establish procedures for reviewing the responses to the complaints of children and monitoring the action taken on the same.

The Commission has also asked the States to intimate action taken regarding above directions within two months.

UNI