Carlin Carr, Mumbai Community Manager
In February 2010, 12-year-old Rouvanjit Rawla, a student at a prestigious school in Kolkata, committed suicide after being humiliated and caned by his principal. The Rawla incident set off a firestorm of controversy over widespread accounts of corporal punishment in India’s schools — from the most elite institutions to those run by the government. The Ministry of Women and Child Development subsequently banned physical punishment of students, stating of the consequences, “The first violation of the ban will invite up to one year in jail, or a fine of Rs. 50,000 or both. For subsequent violations, imprisonment could be extended to three years with an additional fine of 25,000 rupees,” says an article on the issue. Despite the measures, reports of students continuing to receive harsh physical and verbal abuses from their superiors continue to plague India’s school system.
A study conducted last year by the Parent-Teacher Association United Forum found that 100 percent of the 150 teachers they interviewed had used corporal punishment on their students. “The findings left school principals shocked,” says a Times of India report on the issue. The principals may not have known of the extent of the issue, because few incidents were actually being reported to them, neither by the students nor by the parents. Often, parents supported the idea of punishment by the teachers, stating that the child likely deserved it.
Pratham, one of the country’s leading education organizations, says that violence against children in many forms has been “alarmingly” on the rise. In response, Pratham’s Council for Vulnerable Children has partnered with child’s rights groups and government bodies to launch a campaign in Mumbai called “Children First.” Though still in the works, the initiative plans to tackle violence against children in two phases. The first will focus on “creating safety nets within the community by institutionalizing existing groups like child protection vigilance groups.” This phase will also advocate for policy and legal changes to protect child rights and also raise awareness around the issues. Phase two will tackle public institutions in which children engage on a daily basis, including schools, public spaces and public transport. “We are aiming at strengthening the current action along with starting new initiatives to address the issues of quality care and abuse,” says Pratham.
Meanwhile, Delhi High Court has taken action to protect the city’s children. In July, the court asked city officials to come up with a plan for a “zero tolerance” policy to put an end to abuses against students. The rules are to be framed and put up visibly in all schools. At the same time, teachers will need to undergo training to learn alternative actions to handle students and their classrooms. Some principals have already begun training teachers to discuss issues with students or have them write out what they did wrong.
Schools are meant to be safe spaces, and every child has the right to learn without fear of abuse. India is not alone in the situation; in fact, corporal punishment is still legal in 20 states in the U.S. The New York Times held an online debate on the issue; since hitting is still accepted by some communities, especially in the southern states, the practices continues. What are your thoughts? Should corporal punishment be banned outright? Is there ever a place for it? How has your community handled it?
Photo credit: Satish Krishnamurthy