Orders child protection panels in schools
Srinagar: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Srinagar on Saturday issued a circular directing all government and private schools to implement mandatory child protection and safeguarding measures, including installation of CCTV cameras in school buses, constitution of Child Protection Committees.
The committee further stressed implementation of compulsory training of staff on child protection laws.
According to the circular, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the CWC, functioning as a Bench of the First Class Judicial Magistrate under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, said the directions have been issued to ensure a safe, secure and child-friendly environment in all educational institutions.
The committee has directed that all teaching, non-teaching and support staff, including transport personnel shall undergo mandatory periodic training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, mandatory reporting obligations, positive discipline and child safeguarding practices.
To strengthen transport safety, the CWC directed that no school bus or van shall carry children beyond the approved seating capacity and all prescribed transport safety norms shall be followed without exception.
It also said that every school bus and van must be equipped with functional CCTV cameras covering the passenger compartment, with the surveillance system remaining operational throughout the journey. “The recordings shall be preserved and produced before competent authorities whenever required.”
The circular also directs schools to conduct regular awareness and sensitisation programmes on peer bullying, cyberbullying, ragging, emotional abuse, discrimination and conflict resolution.
CWC asked to establish an effective anti-bullying mechanism along with a confidential reporting system to enable students to report grievances without fear.
Schools have further been directed to organise periodic age-appropriate awareness sessions on personal safety, body autonomy, good touch and bad touch, personal boundaries, online safety and the importance of reporting any form of abuse to trusted adults or designated authorities.
The CWC has instructed educational institutions to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, intimidation or abusive behaviour by students against female teachers and women staff members, while ensuring appropriate counselling and disciplinary action in accordance with law and institutional policy.
The Committee further asked schools to constitute and operationalise a Child Protection Committee or School Safety Committee to oversee implementation of child protection measures, address complaints promptly and periodically review safeguarding practices.
Schools were also directed to ensure regular engagement of counsellors or trained professionals for awareness programmes and counselling sessions on child protection, mental health and emotional well-being. Institutions have also been asked to organise value-based education sessions and co-curricular activities to promote empathy, compassion, mutual respect, discipline and gender sensitivity among students.
To improve access to emergency assistance, the committee has made it mandatory for schools to prominently display the Child Helpline number 1098 in bold letters at conspicuous locations, including the main entrance, notice boards, corridors, staff rooms, counselling rooms and on the rear glass of every school bus and van.
Reiterating the statutory obligations under the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the CWC directed all school authorities to report every case of suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation or any offence against a child to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or the police and other competent authorities without delay.
The committee warned that failure to report such incidents would amount to a violation of statutory provisions and may attract legal consequences under the applicable laws—(KNO)
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