The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has expanded the definition of corporal punishment which will now cover any form of adverse treatment. NCPCR has recommended parents to fearlessly file FIR against the schools if children complaints about any kind of abuse.
The directive issued by NCPCR chief Shanta Sinha about corporal punishment involves, "rapping on the knuckles, running on the school ground, kneeling down for hours, standing up for long hours, sitting like a chair, beaten with a scale (ruler), pinched and slapped, child sexual abuse, torture, locking up children alone in classrooms, electric shock and all other acts leading to insult, humiliation, physical and mental injury, and even death".
A teacher can be jailed for calling a child "idiot" or "stupid" or "mindless", "asking the students to write that they will not repeat their mistakes in class" or "slapping a child."
It is seen that many students tend to commit suicide when their teachers say them something or scold them in front of their classmates as they feel humiliated and insulted.
The NCPCR has recommended that all the schools should have a complaint box for submitting in their grievances and problems which will be discussed on the Parents and Teachers (PTA) Meeting.
The new directive has also stated that all the schools including hostels, shelter homes should have a forum where children can express their views. It is felt that sometimes students are silent and they do not respond to the violence against them due to fear.
