Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Thursday came down heavily on the district administration of East Khasi Hills on its ‘NO MR vaccine, no results’ order.
Also read: ‘No MR vaccination, no results’; for students in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills
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In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, the child rights body while criticizing the notification issued by the East Khasi Hills district Deputy Commissioner linking students’ annual reports to Measles-Rubella vaccination, said that the directive is a clear violation of child rights.
Earlier an order was issued by the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, who is also the Chairman of District Task Force for Immunization (DTFI) to all the District School Education Officers (DSEOs).
“You are requested to kindly comply with the directive laid down therein and withhold the examination results of students who refused the vaccination till the district administration gives the clearance. The same may be applied to new admission,” the order issued to the DSEO said.
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The order was given keeping in mind the low coverage of vaccination in the district.
The statement of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued on Thursday read, “The Deputy Commissioner cannot view this as fault of the children but in fact should introspect as to what was the cause of low percentage turnout by the district administration. It is, therefore, requested that the deputy commissioner withdraw the letter sent to the DSEO and not harass students appearing for their final examinations for no fault of theirs. This is an earnest request from the chairperson (Meena Kharkongor).”
Members of the All Meghalaya School Parents Association have also expressing their apprehension termed the move as ‘a violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act’.
The association, in a statement issued on Thursday, said, “It is understood that as per the RTE Act anyone who denies promotion of a child student is in violation of the act and is liable to punishment.”
Earlier, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) and Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP) on Wednesday strongly opposed an order of the Government that asked schools not to publish the results of those students who had refused to be administered Measles–Rubella vaccine.