MCPCR imposes reformative measures in connection with corporal punishment case
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, August 06 2024: In connection with a corporal punishment case recently occurred in a school namely Ima Inaobi Ningshing Maheikol School, Tentha in Thoubal district, the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has imposed a set of reformative, accountable and educative measures, instead of resorting to penalizing the individual under criminal justice system.

The school authority has guaranteed that the measures meant to deliver reformative and restorative justice as prescribed by the Commission will be fully complied, said a press release by MCPCR Chairman, Keisam Pradipkumar.

Under the prescribed measures, the involved teacher will undergo a rigorous educational training to comprehend herself the basic legislations on Child Rights such as Juvenile Justice Act 2015, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) etc., besides learning the positive engagement and alternative measures to corporal punishment.

She will be joining sessions of trained child counsellors and clinical psychologists to capacitate herself on essential knowledge and skills required to deal with children's behavioural issues.

The teacher shall contribute half of her one month salary towards the medical treatment of the victim child.

Taking the accountability, the school management will appoint a Trained Child Counsellor within a month and induction training will be organised for teachers on alternatives to corporal punishment in school.

The Commission further reiterated to all schools to recognize that counselling service is an essential part of a child's education, it is a vaccine for children to prevent themselves from unruly behaviours and substance abuse.

The Commission recommended the schools in the State to appoint at least one child counsellor.

Highlighting that corporal punishment in school had been banned by laws such as RTE Act and JJ Act respectively since it violates the constitutional right of a child i.e., Right to life and dignity thereby leading to physical or emotional wellbeing of the children, the commission said that nobody should defend and encourage corporal punishment in any manner, even on social media platforms.

In view of the above, the Commission stressed that schools must adopt universally accepted measures of positive engagements, provide child counselling service, take the help of experts, parents and guardians, and apply other decent measures which are productive, positive, non- violent and child friendly while managing the day today behavioural problems amongst the children in school without practicing Corporal Punishment.

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