29 August,2011 09:03 AM IST | | Imran Gowhar
Seven-year-old girl being beaten up black-and-blue by private tutor reveals the government's helplessness in curbing such incidents; Bangalore tops the chart of cities notorious for students being hit by teachers
The government seems to have failed in its efforts to curb the rampant cases of corporal punishment in the city.u00a0 If a government body's report dented the city's image by putting it on the top of the list of cities notorious for violation of corporal punishment laws, the case of a seven-year-old girl being beaten black and blue by her tutor reveals the administration's helplessness in curbing such unfortunate incidents. In the past six months, more than 20 complaints of corporal punishment have been filed against teachers resorting to violent means to discipline students.
Marked: Yunitha was allegedly beaten up for failing to complete her
mathematics homework. Pic/Ramesh H S
Demon teacher?
According to the police, Yunitha, a standard first student of Seventh Day Adventist Convent in Frazer Town, was beaten up by her private tutor for failing to complete her mathematics homework. The teacher, identified as S Prabhu, was later arrested by the Pulakeshi Nagar Police and remanded to judicial custody. The victim who has bruise marks all over her body has been admitted to a city hospital.
The incident came to light on Saturday when M Vasu, who is a cab driver, saw his daughter weeping bitterly on her return from tution. Yunitha confided in her father that the private tutor had beaten her up with a belt. "Prabhu is a very strict teacher and used to punish his pupils severely for trivial reasons. He lashed my daughter with a belt, leaving bruise marks all over her body," he said.
After rushing Yunitha to a nearby hospital where she is undergoing treatment, Vasu headed for the Pulakeshi Nagar Police Station and filed a complaint against the teacher. Acting on his complaint, the police detained Prabhu and booked him under an assault case and remanded him to judicial custody.
Panicked parents
"Panicking after hearing the news, several other parents thronged the police station and complained that their children also were beaten up and punished severely by Prabhu," added Vasu. Pulakeshi Nagar police inspector S B Maheshwarappa said, "The accused is a B Com graduate and used to give tuitions for a living. We have recorded the victim's as well as her afther's statement, along with those of other students, who allege having suffered similar punishment."
Govt under fire
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights is under fire for increasing number of corporal punishment cases. Vasudeva Sharma, senior member of the body, admitted that such cases were on the rise in the city.
Lack of awareness
"We are encountering more and more cases of corporal punishment violations because of lack of awareness about the law among teachers. "In most complaints, we found that teachers and even head masters are not aware of the law or even of its implications. We will deal with this case seriously. Also, all teachers and schools practicing such means will be pulled up," said Sharma.
The state government had issued an order in December 2010, banning violent acts against students. Ironically, the cases of corporal punishment have seen a spurt since its implementation. "When we identify the erring schools and start an enquiry, teachers threaten students to fail them if they complained to anybody.
So students are often hesitant about revealing the truth. We will urge parents and students to bring such cases to light so that we can tackle the problem seriously," said Sharma.
Punishment
>> The Ministry of Women and Child Development issued a set of guidelines banning violent punishment on students
First violation of the ban can lead to one year in jail/fine of Rs 50,000 or both
>> Subsequent violations can lead to 3-year imprisonment and fine or Rs 25,000
>> Any teacher found to be in violation of corporal punishment act can be:
>Temporarily or permanently suspended
>Dismissed from duty
>Face a salary cut and no increments
Past imperfect
February 2011: A nine-year-old girl was beaten up in a government school for asking for midday meals
February 2011: Ten-year-old student of a government primary school in Bannerghatta was beaten up for stealing Rs 100 from a teacher's purse
July 2011: Twelve-year-old hangs herself to death after teachers beat her up
August 2011: A 10-year-old boy was beaten by a few teachers. The case filed against Jain Heritage School
