Bantwal: Parents often send their children to boarding schools hoping that their kids will be shaped into disciplined citizens. However, most boarding schools, in the name of disciplining children, end up torturing the little minds. Behind the high walls of the residential schools, the silent sulks, cringing and tears of students often fail to reach the parents.
One such incidents of ‘torture’ inside a reputed residential school has come to light, which has hold mirror to the sad state of living conditions inside the residential schools, which are supposed to hone up on the skills of children.
While in this case the parents took a decision of shifting their son from the very reputed residential school located at Alike in Bantwal and initiate a fight against the injustice, the question remains to be the same. How the schools can resort to brutally punishing the students when the Apex Court had imposed blanket ban on corporal punishment?
Background
Pranav Mudithaya, a ninth standard student and son of Prakash Mudithaya from Kanathila in Sullia was sent to this reputed boarding school in Alike.
However, on January 10, 2016, when Prakash Mudithya went to the residential school to meet his son, he was shocked to know that Pranav was brutally beaten up by his Kannada teacher. Unlike many parents who brush such incidents aside blaming the child for being mischievous, Prakash Mudithya refused to ignore the same and dug out more details about the incident, documented the same and informed Childline and the Child Welfare Committee about the brutal act of a teacher and demanded action and justice.
In his complaint, Prakash explained how, the said Kannada teacher had summoned Pranav to his personal accomodation one evening at about 8 pm and slashed him over 30 times with an iron ruler, just because Pranav failed to submit his practice book on time.
The slashes had left Pranav with a swollen hand and the bruised fingers had traces of blood clots.The marks of the slashes remained for over three days, explained Prakash Mudithaya adding that within few days, the college had taken the students to Muddenhalli for several days in the name of cultural and sports events.
“I had met the Principal of the institution and brought to his notice the gruesome incident of torture going on in the institution and pleaded to him to put an end to such ‘attacks’. I have even written to the Chairman of the institution urging him to act in this regard,” he said adding that the only reply he received to his letter was a suggestion from the Institution Chairman to take his son Pranav away from the school.
“I promtply acted on his suggestion and shifted my son to some other school. But, I will now start a fight for justice, not just for Pranav, but for lakhs of kids who silently suffer in such ‘reputed’ schools,” says Prakash adding that after he took the decision of complaining to the Child Line and the authorities concerned, Pranav was singled out at the school and then categorically targeted.
College Version
Countering the allegations, the institute Principal told News Karnataka that the Mudithaya family was unhappy with the institution management as the institution had not budged down to a personal demand of Mudiythayas.
“Pranav Mudithaya’s elder brother also did his schooling in our institution. But he did not manage to secure a seat for PUC here. Also, Prakash Mudithaya used to coach our students for entrance exams. However, as most of the students this year said that they did not want Mudithaya to coach them, we withdrew the offer given to him. I believe these to be the reasons why he conspired against us. Pranav joined us for 6th standard. He did not have any issues until he completed Class VIII. Now after three years, I do not see a reason for the allegations other than the above mentioned ones,” the Principal said.
To Act soon
Speaking about the case to newkarnataka.com, Child Line Director Renni D’Souza said that the complaint has reached them and they will treat the matter with all seriousness.
“Since the family has brought the matter to notice of Child Welfare Committee as well, we are awaiting a move from the CWC. However, the CWC has asked a team of Childline and District Child Protection Unit to visit the school and submit a report,” said D’Souza adding that during the visit the team will look into various aspects including implementation of Child Protection Policies in the school.
D’Souza insisted that even if there are no physical traces of punishment, even mental harassment suffered by a child in the school can be considered as corporal punishment itself, which the Apex Court had banned, keeping in mind the physical and mental well-being of students.
