Panel on cards to curb school corporal punishment

Meanwhile,until the proposed body is formed,the state government has decided to set up an advisory body in each district to look into complaints of corporal punishment. The body will have teachers,academicians,doctors,psychiatrists and lawyers.

The minister said that the provisions to deal with cases of corporal punishment are already in place but the process of action against teachers has become time-consuming. The new set of rules will speed up the process,he added.

De explained that the School Education Department believes that every child should be given an ambience free of fear of corporal punishment at school. Even under the existing rules,there are provisions for suspension and other forms of action against teachers found guilty of corporal punishment.

The death of class VII student Rouvanjit Rawla of La Martiniere for Boys has triggered a public furore over corporal punishment in schools. Despite the incident being reported in a private school,the government has taken the initiative in the case and made it clear that it wants even private schools to strictly do away with corporal punishment.

The latest incident at Kamala Banerjee Girls High School involving a 5-year-old girl has again brought the issue of corporal punishment to the fore. De said that the advisory committee would also be applicable to private schools in the state.

If private schools do not agree to such an advisory committee,the Central boards should come up with their own structure to check corporal punishment,he added.