Fighting for Her 6-Year-Old Son’s Rights, Dalit Mother Urges NCPCR to Restrict Child Labour in Kerala Schools

“I met the investigating officer, who apparently doesn’t belong to Kerala. He told me that based on feedback from his staff, he had learned that children doing cleaning work is a common practice in Kerala schools,” Priyanka Soman told The Mooknayak.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

Idukki- Disappointed with the apathy of authorities in the Idukki school caste discrimination case, the mother of the traumatized child has written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), seeking justice and accountability for the harm caused to her son.

It all began a fortnight ago when Priyanka Soman, a data entry operator from Idukki, Kerala, filed a complaint with St. Benedicts L.P. School, Sleevamala, alleging that her six-year-old son, Pranav Sijoy, was forced to clean the vomit of a sick classmate due to his caste identity. The disturbing incident, which took place on November 13, left Pranav traumatized and fearful of going to school, as he was pressured by his teacher to clean the mess despite refusing to do so. Priyanka, in her complaint, pointed out that the teacher, Maria Joseph had coerced her son into performing this degrading task, exacerbating his mental anguish.

After Priyanka raised several complaints with the Child Line, education department, the District Magistrate, and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), the school management seemed to begin manipulating the case. The authorities, along with the school officials, allegedly, adjusted their statements, claiming that all the students were asked to clean the mess, not just Pranav. However, this argument inadvertently admitted to practices that violate the Juvenile Justice Act, which strictly prohibits child labor and the exploitation of children’s rights.

Despite the confession from the school and the children’s recorded statements confirming that they had been asked to clean the mess, the police and school authorities continued to downplay the seriousness of the issue. Local officials, in particular, seemed more concerned with minimizing the caste angle, ignoring the larger violation of child rights that had taken place. The reluctance of police officers to act swiftly raised concerns that they were deliberately stalling the investigation, possibly to protect the school management.

“I met the investigating officer, who apparently doesn’t belong to Kerala. He told me that based on feedback from his colleagues and staff, he had learned that children doing cleaning work is a common practice in schools,” Priyanka Soman told The Mooknayak. “I asked him back: ‘Sir, in the ancient days, discrimination prevailed, and the upper caste used to dig soil pits and place banana leaves on which food was served to Dalits. So, was that also a common practice at the time? Is it permissible today, with laws in place against discrimination?'” The officer had no answer.

This interaction made Priyanka realize that her fight wasn’t just for her son but for a larger cause. “I should not only fight for my son but also put an end to such practices. I urge the authorities, both central and state agencies, to pass orders mandating that schools should have dedicated cleaning staff for doing menial jobs. Children cannot be forced into such work,” she asserted, highlighting the ongoing need to protect children’s rights and dignity in educational settings.

Priyanka Soman also asserts that the CCTV cameras placed in front of the classrooms would clearly show people entering and leaving the room. “By getting hold of this crucial evidence, the police can uncover the truth, instead of dragging the case to save the guilty teacher due to undue pressure from the missionary school,” she said. “I just fear the evidence will be tampered with, and I hope it is taken into consideration for a fair trial,” Priyanka added, stressing the importance of transparency and justice in her ongoing fight.

Priyanka’s pursuit for justice intensifies as she has approached the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), after receiving no meaningful response from local authorities.

In her letter to the NCPCR, Priyanka highlighted the systemic apathy and the school’s unwillingness to acknowledge the violation of her child’s rights. What should have been a straightforward case of child exploitation and caste discrimination, turned into a battle against an entrenched system that failed to recognize child labor in schools as a serious offense.

The matter now raises a larger question about the prevalence of such practices in schools across Kerala. Surprisingly, some officials appear to be dismissive of the issue, considering the act of making children clean as a common practice in schools. This normalization of child labor has brought to light the urgent need for stronger interventions by the NCPCR to ensure that no child is subjected to exploitation in the name of education.

Courtesy : The Mooknayak

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