Lok Sabha Question No. 297 (STARRED), answered on 2019-12-09
Subject: Death of School Students
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. 297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019

## Death  of  School  Students

## *297. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: SHRI  BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  cases  of  death  of students  from  various  schools  of  the country  have  come  to  the notice  of  the Government during each of the last three years  and  the  current  year  and  if  so, the details thereof, State, year and school-wise;
- (b)    whether it is true that the corporal punishment was the main reason for death of  the students  in such  cases during  the said period and if  so,  the details thereof along  with  the  other  reasons for  such deaths;
- (c)     whether  the  Government  has conducted  any  enquiry  in  this  regard, if  so,  the  details  and the  outcome thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons  therefor; and
- (d)     the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK')

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2019 ASKED BY  SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE AND SHRI  BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

(a) to (d): The provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, mandates ensuring and enabling a positive learning environment for all children in schools. The Act prohibits  'physical  punishment'  and  'mental  harassment'  under  Section  17(1)  and  makes  it  a punishable  offence  under  Section  17(2).  The  National  Commission  for  Protection  of  Child  Rights (NCPCR) and the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have been entrusted with the task of monitoring under Section 31 of the RTE Act, 2009.

The State Government is the appropriate Government for implementation of the provisions of RTE Act, 2009. The State Governments have notified their own RTE Rules and have Block/District level grievance redressal agencies under these Rules.

The  issue  of  corporal  punishment  and  incidents  of  deaths  of  children  in  schools  has  been viewed seriously and this Ministry gives full importance to the physical safety and psycho-social well being of children in  schools.  This  Ministry  has  issued  Guidelines/Advisory  dated 26.03.2014 under Section 35(1) of the RTE Act, 2009 to all the States and Union Territories for elimination of Corporal Punishment in Schools. Kendriya Vidyalayas Sangathan has issued instructions to schools under them to  eliminate  corporal  punishment  vide  circulars  dated  25.07.2007  and  30.03.2012.  In  addition, Navodaya  Vidyalaya  Samiti  has  also  appointed  Counsellors  in  the  JNV  schools  for  emotional  and physical well-being of the children.

Central  Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all the schools affiliated to it to follow  the  RTE  Act,  2009  vide  circular  dated  8 th April,  2011  in  which  corporal  punishment  is prohibited. Detailed guidelines developed by MHRD have also been shared with schools vide circular dated 23 rd May, 2014. The Affiliation Byelaws of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) empower the School  Managing  Committee  to place  an  employee  under  suspension  if  charged  with cruelty with any student or employee of the school. CBSE has also issued guidelines to schools for ensuring an atmosphere free from fear in each affiliated school.

Under the Integrated scheme for School Education - Samagra Shiksha, effective from the year 2018-19, there is a provision for supporting States and UTs on interventions related to Guidance and Counselling  in  schools.    Funds  have  been  provided  to  the  States/UTs,  in  the  current  financial  year 2019-20 in order to sensitize teachers to function as the first level counsellors in schools and to display a board on safety with helpline/emergency numbers and contact persons. Under NISHTHA, a nationwide    integrated  teacher  training  program,  teachers  are  being  given  orientation  on  counselling, provisions  of  POCSO  Act,  Juvenile  Justice  Act,  School  Safety  guidelines,  helpline  and  emergency numbers, drop-box for complaints,  etc. Also, State-specific projects are funded to address the issues of adolescent children.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also issued an advisory to all States and UTs  vide  letter  dated  18.10.2019  on  School  Safety  Pledge  to  ensure  physical  and  psychological well-being of the children.

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