By IANS,
New Delhi: India’s child rights panel has asked the Delhi government to probe and report to it on a complaint that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were distributing uniforms and satchels to students of schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
“The complaint is self-explanatory which may kindly be perused,” said National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) member secretary Lov Verma while issuing a notice to Delhi Chief Secretary P.K. Tripathi.
“After perusing the complaint, the commission has taken cognizance of the matter and directed that the matter be referred to you (Tripathi) for investigation and report to the commission,” said Verma on a compliant filed by an advocate, Ashok Agarwal, earlier this month.
“You are accordingly requested to get the matter investigated and take further necessary action. A factual report, along with authenticated copies of the relevant documents, be sent to the commission within 15 days of issue of this letter,” he said. The order issued Monday was only made available Friday.
Agarwal, in his complaint, said that by their act the BJP leaders are lowering the dignity of the children and they are also violating orders of the Delhi government’s directorate of education.
Taking note of the complaint, the commission also asked the Delhi government to ensure that all MCD schools comply with the directorate’s orders of Feb 28, 2002, that banned the practice of free distribution of items to the students in full public view and in presence of outside officers and giving it publicity.
“Also ensure that children of the MCD schools are not taught in a manner which may affect their psychological development adversely,” the NCPCR said in its order.