The human resource development ministry has ordered 15 states, including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, to constitute state commissions for protection of child rights (SCPCR) as part of the Right to Education Act.
This is one of the main issues that would be discussed in the education ministers’ conference convened by Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal on February 22 at New Delhi.
Section 31 and 32 of the RTE Act recognises the responsibility of the national commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR), SCPCR and the jurisdictional local authorities to monitor the protection of children’s right to education.
The HRD ministry has released the agenda items and background notes for the education ministers’ conference in which it had spelt out its vision and mission.
The HRD ministry pointed out that 19 states had already constituted the state commission and right to education protection authority.
“After the RTE Act came into force, NCPCR and SCPCRs have been receiving numerous petitions and complaints. Some commissions have established specific mechanisms for receiving and handling complaints related to RTE Act and have also received additional support from the government while others are yet to do so,” the HRD ministry said.
The department of school education and literacy has already issued advisory to states for setting up a grievance redressal system. The local authority would accept a written complaint made by any person on behalf of the child. Complaints could be sent by post, fax, e-mail, or be made in person.
