A government elementary school in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, India recently organized an event in which a motorcyclist rode over the outstretched hands of students lying on the ground and a plank placed over a girl exposing the children to serious harm.
The celebrations marked the birth centenary of the late chief minister K Kamaraj. It was meant to be a 'bravery show', but it resulted in gross violation of child rights, virtually putting them at risk of incurring serious injuries. The show began with a batch of students displaying their karate skills. Then came the shocking event. The incident evoked strong protests from child rights activists, who want the government to sensitize the teaching fraternity, particularly those in rural areas, on basic rights of children.
Ironically, the event was organized in consultation with the parents-teachers’ association of the municipality elementary school at Keezhperumpakkam in Villupuram on a day when a trust managed by the family of higher education minister K Ponmudy came forward to distribute free uniforms and stationery items to the students. It was the minister’s wife, present as chief guest, who stopped the school authorities from continuing their ‘daring stunts’. ‘‘After witnessing a couple of events, the minister’s wife directed us to stop the show. We abruptly ended the programme,’’ said parents-teachers’ association treasurer M Elangovan.
Headmaster Ramanujam, who took charge in December 2008, maintained that the event was organised with the unanimous consent of the parents-teachers' body.
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