MARGAO: Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas today lashed out at the government for its failure to implement laws enacted to protect the dignity of a child including the Goa Children’s Act that was passed 15 years ago.
She said corporal punishment is still being meted out to students in different schools and only a few are reported as the government has failed to sensitise parents, teachers and institutions on the prohibition of corporal punishment due to which it is still considered to be a means of instilling discipline.
She also expressed shock and disgust over the various messages shared on the social media. “It appears that nobody is bothered about the dignity of the child and the dignity of the institute is given priority,” she said.
Pointing out that corporal punishment was banned in 2000 following a Supreme Court order in the case filed by Parents Forum for Meaningful Education against government of India, she pointed out that corporal punishment even by parents at home is prohibited.
“It is unfortunate that in India children do not pluck up courage to complain against their parents who beat them,” she said adding that in such cases dignity of the family takes precedence over the dignity of the child.
Welcoming the Directorate of Education’s decision to recruit more counselors for students, she demanded that every school be provided with at least one counselor. She said a good counselor can instill confidence in the child who can then open up and reveal the trauma and hardships he or she faces.
“A school at Margao had to sack a teacher after one student complained against him to the counselor who in turn found out that the teacher has molested even other students and following an enquiry he was sacked,” she said.
While appreciating the stand taken by the school alumni, parents and teachers as reported in the media over the latest incident of corporal punishment, she however expressed her disgust at the kind of messages posted by some of the ex-students of the school.
