Following a tragic incident in which a seven-year-old boy in Bhiwani accidentally strangled himself while playing with his older brother’s school tie, the Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has made a formal request for all educational institutions to eliminate traditional neckties from their uniforms. This directive is applicable to all government, government-aided, private, and recognized schools, effective immediately.
Tripti, the Chairperson of the Commission, confirmed the advisory to The Indian Express, highlighting that similar accidents have occurred in Sonipat, Haryana, and various regions in Rajasthan. She stated, “Fatal accidents can occur when children, in a playful spirit, casually pick up these neckties.”
The advisory recommends that schools replace traditional neckties with safer options, such as clip-on (breakaway) or Velcro (quick-release) ties, where neckties are deemed necessary for uniformity or discipline. It further emphasizes that until these alternatives are implemented, conventional neckties should not be worn during sports, physical education classes, playground activities, or any situation that poses a risk of entanglement.
Additionally, the Commission urged educational institutions to educate teachers, students, and parents about the dangers associated with traditional neckties. This advisory has been sent to the Haryana School Education Department for distribution to all schools across the state.
The Commission, acting under Section 13 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005, noted an alarming trend of accidental deaths among school-aged children nationwide due to strangulation incidents involving ties becoming entangled with swings, wall hooks, and other objects during play. The Commission emphasized that while these occurrences are accidental, they are preventable, stating that conventional neckties, which serve primarily as a uniform component for aesthetics and discipline, can lead to unnecessary strangulation risks. Safer alternatives, such as clip-on and Velcro ties, are available and effectively reduce the risk of injury.
The Commission remarked, “When safer alternatives are available, children should not be subjected to unnecessary hazards simply due to uniform traditions.”
In the recent incident in Bhiwani, the seven-year-old boy, the child of a laborer, was reportedly attempting to wear his elder brother’s tie, part of a private school uniform. While playing, the tie became a noose, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Kulbhushan Sharma, president of the National Independent Schools Association (NISA), praised the advisory as a thoughtful move prioritizing child safety. He also urged the Commission to consider the welfare of students who migrate to coaching centers, such as those in Kota, Rajasthan, while still enrolled in their home schools as dummy candidates. Sharma recommended that the Commission issue further advisories to ensure the safety of these students as well.
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