NEW DELHI: In 2002, following a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission and on its instructions, the Delhi government banned the distribution of items to students at a public exhibition. Practice is back now. In schools run by the local authorities, school principals have even been instructed to distribute lunch ration sets only in the presence of the local council.
While lunch is a centrally sponsored program, the city schools have photos of the councilors on banners claiming the ration cards are a “gift to the students.” The NGO Social Jurist had previously complained to the National Human Rights Commission and repeated the complaint on February 12.
The instructions from a Shahdara District school official to the headmasters stated: “All headmasters are instructed to distribute all dry rations in the presence of the city council. It shouldn’t be spread without them at all. The school should inform the local council when the distribution will take place. ”
Nirmal Jain, Mayor of East Delhi Municipal Corporation, insisted that there is no official order to this effect. “The presence of the elected member only serves to properly monitor the distribution of the rations.” While SDMC Mayor Anamika could not be reached for her response, North Corporation Mayor Jaiprakash said, “At our corporation, the sales process has yet to begin. However, the presence of councilors shouldn’t be a problem as it is a surveillance. ”
The social lawyer’s letter to the NHRC states: “Such a practice is not only derogatory to the dignity of schoolchildren, most of whom belong to the lower classes of society, but also amounts to violating these children’s human rights. Articles 39 and 40 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child state that children cannot receive degrading treatment. ”
Ashok Agarwal, counselor and social lawyer, said: “Is the government breaking its own orders? I was told CM Arvind Kejriwal started the trend. The poor students are led to believe that they are receiving such treatment because of their poverty and not of their right. ”
