Mr. Justice V.P.Mohan Kumar,
Member, State Human Rights Commission,
Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram
Respected Sir,
Sub: School Assembly
under blazing sun – impleading petition – Regarding
JANANEETHI is human rights NGO, based in Thrissur district, registered in 1992 and accredited by the State Legal Services Authority, has taken several issues with the State Human Rights Commission in the past. It provides free legal aid to the poor, free legal consultancy and assistance in courts to victims of torture, corruption and organized violence. The Psycho-Legal Therapeutic Services of Jananeethi is continuously availed predominantly by women, children, differently abled, old and sick, economically poor and culturally backward communities, unorganized sectors and so on.
We are deeply concerned of the insensitivity and audacity of school authorities in the State who cause small children rally in open ground under blazing sun for school assembly. As is known to every body, much of the public announcements and instructions of the heads of institutions/departments are made in the school assembly. It means the children are forced to suffer the searing heat of sun for a longer duration. This in fact amounts to gross violation of children’s rights that are enshrined in the Constitution and the CRC. A glaring example of this callous attitude of the school authorities was manifested in Malappuram district on the 4th of this month as many of the children of tender age fainted during the school assembly of Bhavans Vidyasram School at Chelambra, near Calicut University. If one can rely on the reports in The Hindu dated 5th June, the reaction of the principal on the episode reveals his criminal negligence and cruel mind-set towards students community.
Jananeethi congratulates the Honourable Commission and our friend Dr.Nazeema, Head of the Department of Education, Calicut University for initiating action on the prevailing situation that had gone unnoticed so far.
JANANEETHI has resolved to get impleaded in this case in response to the call from the Honourable Commission. We, the members of the Board, Executive Committee and Staff of Jananeethi earnestly request the Commission to initiate appropriate steps for banning school assemblies in open grounds under blazing sun. We suggest the following alternate methods for school assembly:
· it could be done in class rooms under the supervision of the class teacher, public announcements by the head of the school could be done through mike.
· it could be done under a roofed hall or in an open space with appropriate protection of children from the heat of the day.
· children below standard V could be spared from the school assembly, or it could be held separately for them under proper roofing.
In any case the school assembly shall not be longer than 15 minutes.
The members of PTA must be encouraged to watch and comment on the conduct of the school assemblies.
There are instances of authorities publicly insulting, reprimanding, punishing individual students in public while the assembly is in session. Such cruel, inhuman and imprudent acts will hamper the psychological and intellectual well-being of the student.
Jananeethi requests the Honourable Commission to give clear guidelines to school authorities, both public and private sectors, in the light of international instruments.
Jananeethi would also propose that the Commission may please constitute an expert committee that will look into:-
- school carry bags: what should be the maximum weight a pupil should be allowed to carry;
- penalty: what should be the mode of disciplining a pupil who goes wrong, naughty, irregular, un-attentive etc
- stress and suicidal thoughts: what are the preventive/therapeutic steps that should necessarily be provided in schools for students under stress, insecure feelings, physical or sexual abuse etc
- health and hygiene: what are the facilities that are mandatory in a school set up i.e. toilet, drinking water, first-aid etc.
- Transportation: what should be the norm of conveyance (auto rickshaws, taxi cars, mini vans, school buses) of children, the maximum number of children that could be permitted in a vehicle etc.
Jananeethi promises its full support and co-operation to the Commission in discharging its noble functions as envisaged in the Act.
For Jananeethi Family,
George Pulikuthiyil
Executive Director,
P.B.No8, Mannuthy Post, Thrissur 680651.
Tel: 487-2373479; Fax: 487-2373281; 94470 27338.
Email: gpneethi@sancharnet.in; geopuli@gmail.com
Website: www.jananeethi.org