IT News
Imphal, Aug 6:
The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has taken a significant step in addressing a corporal punishment incident at Ima Inaobi Ningshing Maheikol School, Tentha, Thoubal District, by implementing reformative and educative measures rather than penalizing the individuals involved through the criminal justice system. Chairman Keisham Pradip stated that the school authority has assured full compliance with the measures prescribed by the Commission, aimed at delivering reformative and restorative justice.
Under these measures, the involved teacher is required to undergo extensive educational training to understand basic child rights legislations, such as the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act). Additionally, the teacher will learn about positive engagement and alternative measures to corporal punishment. She will participate in sessions with trained child counsellors and clinical psychologists to gain essential knowledge and skills for managing children’s behavioural issues. Furthermore, the teacher will contribute half of her one-month salary towards the medical treatment of the victim child.
The school management has taken accountability by committing to appoint a trained child counsellor within a month and organizing induction training for teachers on alternatives to corporal punishment. The MCPCR reiterated to all school authorities in the state the importance of counselling services as a crucial part of a child’s education, acting as a preventive measure against unruly behaviours and substance abuse. The Commission recommends that every school in the state appoint at least one child counsellor.
The corporal punishment at the school, which is banned by laws such as the RTE Act and JJ Act, was addressed due to its violation of a child’s constitutional right to life and dignity and its potential harm to the physical and emotional wellbeing of children. The MCPCR emphasized that children are the future and are highly susceptible to long-term psychological damage when subjected to any form of corporal punishment, which is illegal, unproductive, and brutal.
The Commission urged that no one should defend or encourage corporal punishment, even on social media platforms. Schools must adopt universally accepted measures of positive engagement, provide child counselling services, seek help from experts, parents, and guardians, and apply other productive, positive, non-violent, and child-friendly methods to manage daily behavioural problems without resorting to corporal punishment. The MCPCR clarified that it does not support or justify any unruly behaviours of children in school but targets the use of legally prohibited and inappropriate disciplinary tools, endorsing alternative ways of disciplining and educating children.
