Sudha Murty raises issue of school bullying in Rajya Sabha, seeks national framework

Nominated Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty on Wednesday raised concerns over bullying and cyberbullying among schoolchildren and urged the government to introduce a mandatory national framework to tackle the problem.

Raising the issue during Special Mentions in the Rajya Sabha, Murty said recent incidents across the country show that bullying is not merely a personal conflict between children but reflects a larger failure of institutional accountability.

Referring to the PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), she said the report highlights the scale of bullying in Indian schools. According to the survey, 32 per cent of students reported being teased or mocked in school, 24 per cent s aid they had faced physical pushing or hitting and 22 per cent reported being threatened by their peers.

The report also noted that only 45 per cent of students feel comfortable talking to someone when they feel upset, though about 70 per cent of schools have anti-bullying policies.

Murty said bullying has serious consequences, including anxiety, depression and declining academic performance among students . Experts also warn that many victims hesitate to report incidents due to fear of retaliation, while the rise of social media has intensified the problem through cyberbullying.

While the National Education Policy 2020 emphasises mental health, she noted that many schools still lack trained counsellors to support students. Murty also referred to the Manodarpan helpline launched by the Ministry of Education, which has provided guidance through over 3.2 lakh calls, indicating the psychological needs of students.

However, she said the helpline cannot replace on-ground safety measures . Currently, only advisory guidelines exist from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the Ministry of Education.

She urged the government to enact a mandatory national framework that includes emotional sensitivity training and a clear reporting mechanism to ensure safe school environments.