Impact on Fundamental Right of Children during COVID-19: Right to Education and Right to Life

Abstract

COVID-19 began as a health crisis but now as the pandemic is going on is becoming a child right crisis. when COVID-19 began in march 2020 Indian population was unaware of how long this crisis is going on because each one of us is facing this situation for the very first time in our life.The right to life as well as right to education is majorly hampered which is effecting mental and physical health of the children. Their are various articles under indian constitution which protect the right of children same as adults and some articles specifically protect the children such as article 21-a, 39(e)(f), 45, 15,14, 21, 23, 29, 46, 47. if these articles who provide protection to children are violated then children can demand their right from the state. The united nation issued a convention for protection of the children which came into force in the year 1992. The aim of this convention is to provide the children with safe, healthy and happy environment where the children can grow physically, mentally, and emotional. The national commission for protection of the child rights(NCPCR) gave certain guidelines for the protection of the health of of children regarding the condition of the children which can range from mild to severe.NCPCR said that it would share these guidelines with wings all across the states and union territories.

These guidelines are categorised into three categories on the basis of infection rate such as mild and asymptomatic, moderate and severe. Asymptomatic or mild symptoms should be treated at home. Monitoring chart should be maintained, respiratory rate is counted two three times a day etc.
Moderate symptoms oxygen saturation should be above 90 at all times and suffering children should be treated at COVID-19 health centers. In severe symptoms when oxygen saturation drops below 90 then they will be treated in COVID hospitals.

Guidelines were only to protect right of health of the children and their was no mention of anything regarding right to education of children which is also hampered at large.

In my paper I have researched the situation which hampering the rights of the children which includes the right to life and education. supereme court should take action for protecting right of education of children in opinion because their is economic disparity among the citizen of the country so, government should provide technological assistance to the children who cannot afford it which is having an effect on them. still these kinds of efforts has not taken place by the the courts as well as the governments of the country. when the pandemic started curicullem was taught on national channel on television but still it is very difficult for the children who have multiple siblings to have proper access to the education. if we look at reality then for example their are two siblings in the house then generally they will be in different classes so they can not attend their classes on television at the same time which will cause difficulty in access of the right to education.