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Zero Tolerance for Corporal Punishment

© UNICEF India / Omesh Matta

On the panel were Mr. Samir Dalwai, Ms. Karin Hulshof, Representative, UNICEF India; Ms. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, NCPCR; Mr. Krishan Kumar, Director, NCERT and Ms. Anita Kaul, Joint Secretary, Government of India

Children forced to do domestic work in the house for their school teachers; impressionable minds thrashed in class till they fall unconscious as a means of inculcating discipline; young girls and boys promoted to the next class only after enduring the emotional scars of abuse; these incidents of corporal punishment and many more were shared by children, academics and activists at a media dialogue on corporal punishment held on February 19 in New Delhi.

The media dialogue on ending corporal punishment and upholding the right to dignity and protection, organised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and UNICEF, flagged off a year long campaign to end the physical and mental abuse of children and highlighted their right to dignity and protection. NCERT Director Professor Krishna Kumar gave the keynote address. Others on the panel for the discussions were UNICEF India Country Head Karin Hulshof, NCPCR chairperson Shantha Sinha, Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy in the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry Anita Kaul, pediatrician and child psychologist Dr Samir Dalwai, Joint Secretary (Secondary Schools), HRD Ministry SC Khuntia and Childline representative Nicole Menezes. Also present were a number of child reporters from both government and private schools who publish the newsletters ‘Balaknama’ and ‘Yamuna’.

With corporal punishment emerging as a major cause of children dropping out of school and suffering physical and mental trauma, the event brought together different voices to debate how best to put an end to this shameful practice prevalent in schools, institutions and even homes.

Don’t Suffer in Silence
Two out of three school-going children in India are physically abused, according to a national report on child abuse prepared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007. It found that corporal punishment happens in every district of the country, with boys more likely to face physical abuse. Punishment as a tool to discipline children is deeply ingrained in both government schools and private schools. However, it was found that most children do not report the abuse to anyone. They suffer in silence.

Even though sixteen state governments, including Delhi, have banned corporal punishment and there are several laws preventing it, 14-year-old Tina (name changed), studying in a private school in Delhi, spoke of the ‘razor sharp tongues of teachers’ that disturb adolescent children to the extent that they commit suicide. “Schools are like a second home to us and teachers are like parents. So when a teacher says ‘You are good for nothing’ or ‘You should be sent to a special school’ or that ‘Teachers are allergic to your face’, the student may not break down in front of the rest of the class but can think of nothing else but those comments for days and nights. It affects our self esteem and self worth to the extent that one opts out of the subjects for which one has been ridiculed.”

Dr Dalwai endorsed Tina’s observations. He said thrashing or ridiculing children does not improve a child’s performance in school. Instead of physical punishment, he said there should be “positive disciplining”. This should take the form of explaining to children where they are going wrong and praising them when they do something good.

Encourage and Teach
Ms Hulshof also emphasised that for a child to develop well, encouragement and not corporal punishment is necessary.  “Applaud children when you approve of their actions and firmly reason with them when you do not,” she said. “UNICEF is frequently asked if ending corporal punishment will not mean chaos in classrooms. The answer is NO. The evidence globally and in India supports the thesis that in child-friendly schools where children’s creativity is encouraged and their dignity respected, discipline is intrinsic.”

Professor Krishna Kumar said that child rights puts responsibilities on adults. As set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, violence has no place in a child’s life. He emphasized the importance of improving teacher training and reversing the devaluation of teachers’ roles.

Protect and Uphold Dignity
Dr Sinha said that the NCPCR was working towards Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) being set up in every school. These, she said, should emerge as the nodal point for redressal of all complaints. Since 2007 the NCPCR and the HRD Ministry have been writing to the states with detailed guidelines for the elimination of corporal punishment. “Ending corporal punishment of all children up to the age of 18 is non-negotiable,” she emphasised.

The promise made to all children, said Ms. Hulshof, is that “In collaboration with governments, teachers, parents, community groups, children and civil society, we will ensure there is zero tolerance for corporal punishment.”