Stop harassment of single mothers: WBCPCR

The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has made several recommendations to the state government to curb alleged harassment of single mothers by school authorities during the admission of their children.

The child rights body has not only urged the state government to ensure that the single mothers do not face any discrimination while enrolling kids in schools but has also recommended stringent measures against schools who harass single mothers.

In the recommendation, WBCPCR has urged the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, Directorate of Child Rights and Trafficking and the Department of School Education to ensure “ restraining the harassment of single mothers” while admitting their children in schools.

“WBCPCR has recommended making rules to compel the school authorities to treat the children of single mothers, widows, divorcees at par with children of having both the parents with regard to admission in schools,” stated one of the recommendations.

It has also urged the related departments to ensure “ proper implementation” of the Rights of Children to Free And Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

The recommendations include punitive measures against schools which violate the provisions of the Rights of Children to Free And Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

“WBCPCR has recommended to frame provisions for the penalty for disobeying or non-complying with the RTE Act, 2009 and relevant rules, such penalty may include cancellation of affiliations of schools in accordance with law,” stated the recommendation.

The development comes after the child rights body earlier this year received several complaints from single mothers of alleged harassment by school authorities and denial of admission of their children just because they are single mothers.

“Although the related schools did not clearly state that they are denying admission to children of single mothers but the ground for their decision is very clear,” Ananya Chakraborti, WBCPCR chairperson told DH.

She also said that while interviewing such single mothers the authorities of certain schools asked them “regressive questions” such as why don’t they stay with husbands or have they used in vitro fertilisation.