Rajasthan to launch helpline for school kids

Jaipur: School children in Rajasthan will be able to file a complaint
against corporal punishment or discrimination by their schools. The
state government is planning to launch a helpline service for the
purpose, an official said on Friday.

The education department, in a written direction, has also asked
district education officers (DEO) to ensure deployment of a child
rights supervisor at each school - private and government-run. The
children will be able to approach the supervisor if their rights are
violated.

"It is a unique initiative and we took the decision after we received
regular complaints regarding physical punishment to children and other
violations of their rights," a senior education department official
told the sources.

He added that children will be able to call up the helpline number and
register their complaint if they are discriminated on the basis of
caste, meted out corporal punishment or mental harassment by a teacher
or if deprived of scholarships when they are eligible.

"To make sure that each child knows about the toll-free helpline
service and their rights, a child rights supervisor will be deputed in
every school. The supervisor will be one of the school teachers. He
will have to conduct special sessions every week to apprise the
children of their rights and inform them about the helpline number,"
said the officer.

He added that each complaint will be assessed on priority basis and
after thorough investigation action will be taken against the teachers
or school staff who violate child rights.

The decision has been welcomed by child rights activists and the parents.

"Physical and metal harassment of children at school is a common
practice in Rajasthan.

Not only in urban areas, but in rural areas too, teachers usually give
corporal punishment to children on flimsiest grounds, like for not
doing homework. Parents even had to lodge police cases against
teachers in the recent past when their children were badly thrashed,"
said Ashima Singh, parent of a 10-year-old girl.

"If implemented properly then the step would go a long way in
protecting child rights," said Rakesh Bhardawaj, a child rights
activist. IANS