NCPCR released Guidelines to Eliminate Physical Punishment in Schools

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on 4 March 2012 released guidelines to eliminate physical punishment and to discipline schools.  The NCPCR survey disclosed that the use of physical punishments is common in Indian schools and corporal punishments are often used by teachers as a means to discipline children. Even children in the age group of 3 to five years are not spared.

The NCPCR released the Guidelines after a detailed study. The study was conducted in 2009-10 and it involved 6632 children across seven states in India.   

The guidelines suggested the formation of Corporal Punishment Monitoring Cells (CPMCs) by schools. Besides hearing grievances related to corporal punishment, child sexual abuse and mental harassment, CPMCs will forward recommendations to district level authorities within 48 hours of the occurrence.