Violation of Child Rights in India : Role of Policy, Pedagogy and Culture

Abstract

The paper tries to examine the violation of child rights in Indian educational institutions and society, figuring out the actors i.e. society, culture, and teachers which play crucial role in the infringement of child rights. It challenges also the education, pedagogy, syllabi, and teacher training, though seemingly empowering, which have been unable to protect children’s rights completely till date. This theoretical study is based on the incidents occurring in the country i.e. corporal punishment, caste/gender discrimination, child marriage, child abuse etc. along with some literary narratives. The critical analysis engages a different approach/method to study the issues raised. The study succeeds to prove, despite guarantee of child rights and mechanism to safeguard these, that violation of child rights is apparent which is perceived as natural. The study proves that the syllabi, teacher training and culture play a crucial role for this naturalized violation of child rights. The culture, the major actor among all, is liable for this seemingly-natural-violation. Taking into account all the factors for violation of child rights, the study suggests that there must be redesigning of the syllabus and pedagogy which may protect child rights. The programmes/campaigns must be run to sensitize parents, teachers and society for this issue. Besides, there must be strict action on the violators and conviction be assured. Government not only must formulate policies for children’s welfare, rather it must ensure the implementation of all these too. Only then the notion of strong nation can be realized.