‘She will sit in air-conditioned room’: Video of Kashmiri primary school students questioning education minister sparks heated debate
A viral video of a 12-year-old boy questioning a Kashmiri school’s decision to postpone declaration of summer vacation has now reached the Child Welfare Committee, eliciting comments from Kashmir’s chief cleric and reigniting questions about the existence of children on social media.The video, which has been widely circulated online over the past few days, shows children criticizing Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo for not declaring a summer vacation despite temperatures in the valley exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Speaking directly to the camera, the boy said he felt the minister “probably doesn’t have children in school” and that she “probably is sitting in an air-conditioned room”.Summer vacation for schools across the Kashmir Valley is usually announced during July and August for a period of around two weeks, depending on prevailing weather conditions.
Child Welfare Committee orders action
The government-run Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has now stepped in. According to a notice issued by the commission, the news portal that first uploaded the video recorded and interviewed the children without the informed consent of their parents or legal guardians. It also claimed that the recording was done without the knowledge or permission of the school authorities.The committee has directed representatives of the news portal to attend the meeting. It also asked the police to take steps to remove the video from online platforms and register a First Information Report (FIR). The portal has submitted a written response to the committee, the report said.CWC Chairman Khair-ul-Nisa said she became aware of the existence of “suo motu” after watching the video online.“After seeing this viral video, I got the idea of ’Somotu’. At that time, I didn’t know the identity of the child, his parents, or the school. This video has already gone viral,” she said. neural network Report.She said the committee later traced the child’s school through the child’s uniform and directed the principal to appear in court on Saturday to verify the facts.Khair-ul-Nisa also expressed concern about the impact the viral attention could have on children.“He may not even be able to return to school because of the attention the video has received. Journalists should exercise greater discretion before uploading the video,” she said.
Mirwaiz questions children’s exposure to social media
The controversy also prompted a response from Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooqwho described the child’s comments as “impolite” and expressed concern about the presence of minors on social media.Addressing people after Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said society should reflect on whether children should be exposed to social media in this way.“Society must ask whether underage children should be exposed to social media in this way and used for public reaction without understanding the consequences,” he reportedly said. TNN.The video sparked a strong response on social media.Many users defended the boy’s comments as an example of free speech and said children should be encouraged to express concerns that affect them. Others criticized the language used in the film, calling it disrespectful and saying it reflected a lack of basic social values.As the debate continues, the Child Welfare Council has issued new advice asking media organizations and individuals not to interview, film or disseminate films involving children in a way that may affect their privacy, dignity, safety or general welfare.
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