New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Abuse and harassment meted out to children in schools is increasing each year, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said Monday. Last year alone the national child rights' panel received 95 such complaints.

'It is reported by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) that there has been an increase in the the number of cases reported on excesses on children in schools,' the minister told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question.

'The complaints... have been referred to the concerned state governments and union territory administrations for appropriate action against culprits under relevant laws,' she added.

According to the NCPCR figures, the number of complaints on child excesses in schools - which includes acts of sexual abuse, harassment, humiliation, murder, corporal punishment and wrongful confinement - has nearly tripled in the past three years.

With 34 complaints in 2007-2008 and 68 in 2008-2009, the child right's panel saw a surge in complaints last year and received 95 complaints in 2009-2010 (till date), from 21 states.

The highest number of complaints this year were from Uttar Pradesh as the state reported 27 complaints with as many as 20 cases of corporal punishment and one murder.

While Tamil Nadu had 12 complaints, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa reported nine cases each. Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab reported four complaints each.