The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Children question rights violations

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Monday, Feb 21, 2011
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Children question rights violations

Lavanya M.

CHENNAI: T. Sharanya, a Class VII student, realised that the marriage of her 14-year-old sister would be against law. The wedding arrangements in December were called off after Sharanya explained to her parents that the marriage of children below 18 years of age is a violation of their human rights.

She warned them that the marriage could lead to imprisonment of parents which may extend to three months and was also liable to a fine. In case they proceed with the arrangements, she would have to inform her teacher, she told them.

“My teacher told me about my rights and that I should not be scared to stand up for the rights of other children. My parents have now agreed to talk about our marriage after we are old enough and ready for it,” says Sharanya, the student of Adi Dravida Welfare School, Poonamallee, whose sister is attending Class X.

The human rights education of teachers offered by the Institute of Human Rights Education (IHRE) has had substantial impact on several young minds and the lives of those around them.

The students have gained confidence and the courage to stand up and make their voices heard whenever they see an immoral act.

Female infanticide

In another incident A. Mohandas, a human rights teacher at the Adi Dravida Welfare School in Karai remembers how his student, S. Lakshmi mustered courage to stop a brutal female infanticide in her neighbourhood.

“She heard her neighbours discussing that they would put the child near a table fan for her to suffocate to death so that the death would seem natural. She threatened neighbours that she would complain. This young girl saved the child's life, as she was aware of the unlawful nature of her neighbour's action,” he says.

Teachers from more than 2,250 schools who are being trained at the institute, in turn, impart education to their students in Classes VI, VII and VIII. The positive outcome of the programme can also be seen in their daily lives. For example, students of the Karai School approached the municipality recently, to question the water supply that had been hindered for days.

These are anecdotes that are representative of the many impacts and interventions happening across the 18 States where the education is imparted.

Children would benefit to a great extent if the education is integrated with the curriculum, says J. Shiyam Sundar, zonal coordinator, Institute of Human Rights Education.

“For the objective of the education to be fulfilled every subject including social sciences, languages and mathematics should be taught from the perspective of human rights. But more importantly students from various sections and categories should come together to share their lives and experiences so that the massive walls that divide the campus from the community is broken down and students can relate to the education,” says V. Vasanthidevi, chairperson, IHRE.

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