JOIN USLeave those kids alone!
On September 30, 2007 a kindergarten girl student of Star Shine Public School in west Delhi was asked to strip in front of the class as punishment for not doing her homework.
On April 17 this year, Shanno Khan, a class two student of MCD primary school in north Delhi died after she slipped into coma. Her class teacher had hit her head against a table and made her stand in the sun for over two hours for failing to recite the alphabet.
These two incidents are just the tip of an iceberg. I was one of the ‘luckier’ ones to survive these demons in the garb of gurus. I could have so easily landed up being a Shanno. I studied in a central school in Bangalore till class 10. Well-reputed, its rampant child abuse needs more parents like mine to be exposed.
At the age of five, as a first grade student, I was hit repeatedly on my knuckles with a stick for not writing in cursive handwriting. I recall the teacher banging my head with a bunch of books and making me stand out in the sun. As a six year-old I was on medication for acidity and was diagnosed for anxiety.
Heading to school was an emotional nightmare. I was not allowed to drink water in class and was allowed to do so only after being hit. I remember a project made in grade one torn apart by the teacher simply because it was made by me.
I was lucky that my parents supported me. My mother stood alone and fought for her daughter’s rights as a five-year-old against a whole institution. She even knocked at the doors of the HRD ministry.
I watched, helplessly, other classmates and friends being physically abused and punished. I got the lion’s share because my parents had taken on the institution and objected to corporal punishment.
I was ostracised by the entire primary section and the teachers ‘ganged’ up against me.
I recall walking home from school in the sun weeping inconsolably. My palms were swollen and hurt a lot. My mother found blue cane marks.
Sympathise?
When she complained to the principal, she was told to be ‘sympathetic’ and understand the teacher’s problems since she had a bad marriage, an abusive husband and was mentally unwell!
My parents refused to change my school as advised by the principal since I was at no fault. They felt that would make me an escapist and I’d remain submissive all my life.
The teachers went to unbelievable lengths; they instructed the class not to talk to me. I was made to sit alone. The class monitors were told to keep extra tab on me. I’d be beaten up by the class monitors too.
Like many others, I was also a victim of partiality, being denied a chance to showcase my talent or intellect.
Let me clarify that not all teachers are demons. When I had lost all interest in academics and hated school, there were teachers who helped restore my confidence.
Having gone through this ordeal I have realised that close interactions with the teachers is essential. I sincerely appeal to parents not to blindly believe the teachers and allow them to beat children. Elders can intimidate children simply by their physical enormity and status. Please stand by your children and give them all possible support.
What can you do?
The biggest problem lies with parents who refuse to protest in fear. Most schools have PTAs – the efficiency of which is questionable. Raise your voice, whenever you can, for the sake of your child.
Complain to the National Commission for protection of child rights. The NCPCR has created a working group to address corporal punishment in schools. Complaints can be addressed to Shanta Sinha: shanta.sinha@nic.in
Dr Niranjan Aradhya from Bangalore is a part of the NCPCR working group (aradhyaniranjan@hotmail.com).
Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 provides punishment for cruelty to children. Whoever, having the actual charge of or control over a child, assaults, abandons, exposes, inflicts mental or physical suffering willfully on a child shall be punishable under law.
Article 19 of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child provides measures and imposes an obligation on member states to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse. India being a signatory is bound by this.