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[10 August 2007] - The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights in India has directed 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, Smt. Shantha Sinha said that all forms of corporal punishment are a fundamental breach of human rights. Citing a Supreme Court case on the ban on corporal punishment in schools, she said that the onus of responsibility in safeguarding children from punishment lies equally with school teachers and education administration at all levels. She said education departments in all 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 attention of the authorities. They must be given confidence to make complaints and not accept punishment as a ‘normal’ activity at 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 enlist the help of an NGO to facilitate such an exercise. - A box where children can post complaints has to be provided for each school. - There must 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 delay. 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 an adverse effect on children’s participation in schools. - The education department at all levels, district and state, are to establish procedures for reviewing the responses to the complaints of children and monitoring the action taken. The Commission has also asked States to begin taking action within two months. Further information
pdf: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=29757