Question : CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS

(a) whether the National Education Policy, 1992 clearly states that corporal punishment should be firmly excluded from the education system and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Supreme Court has also, by ruling, banned corporal punishment for children in schools;

(c) if so, the State-wise details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether Plan International released a report titled `The Impact of Corporal Punishment in Schools` and if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether `Study on Child Abuse, India 2007` observes that 65 per cent of school- going children in the country have been subjected to corporal punishment in their schools and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps proposed by the Government to remedy the situation?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a): The National Policy on Education (as modified in 1992) states that corporal punishment will be firmly excluded from the educational system.

(b)&(c): The Supreme Court has banned corporal punishment for children on December 1, 2000 when it directed the State to ensure that children are not subjected to corporal punishment in schools and they receive education in an environment of freedom and dignity, free from fear. As the majority of schools are under the purview of State Governments, such data is not maintained centrally by this Ministry.

(d)&(e): The reports of Plan International and Study Child Abuse, India 2007 are available on the websites of Plan International and the Ministry of Women and Child Development, respectively.

(f): The following steps have been taken:

i. Corporal punishment is also prohibited under Section 17 (1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Section 17 (2) of the Act also provides that whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to such persons..

ii. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issues circulars to its affiliated schools from time to time giving clear guidelines about the need for establishing an atmosphere free from fear in every school.