NCPCR: Harassment of children for applying Rakhi, Tilak, and Mehndi in schools is unacceptable, Commission seeks report from states

Terming physical and mental pressure on children, discrimination, and harassment in the name of special events in schools on the occasion of festivals as corporal punishment, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued instructions to avoid it.

NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanungo said the Commission has issued instructions to the Education Department of all the states and union territories to ensure that children are not pressurized and harassed for coming to schools wearing Rakhi, Mehndi, Tilak, etc., or for religious practices during the upcoming festive season. The Commission has asked the department to submit the steps taken, orders issued to schools, and compliance report to it by August 17.

In a letter issued to the Principal Secretaries of the School Education Department across the country, NCPCR Chairperson Priyank Kanungo said, child protection laws should be strictly followed in schools, especially during festivals. The letter mentioned the worrying trend of schools banning children's participation in cultural and religious activities.

Kanungo gave examples of how school students are facing harassment for cultural and religious practices like wearing rakhi, tilak, or mehndi during festivals like Rakshabandhan. This often leads to physical and mental harassment. The commission said this is a direct violation of Section 17 of the RTE Act, which prohibits corporal punishment or any kind of discrimination in schools.

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