SRINAGAR: A one-day training programme cum workshop for teachers on awareness and prevention of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) was organized by Directorate of School Education, Kashmir, in collaboration with Ru baroo Breaking Silences Foundation Mumbai, Kashmir Women’s Collective, and Sahuliyat Kashmir at GHSS Kothibagh here.
Nearly 100 Government teachers representing each district of Kashmir valley attended the workshop.
On the occasion, experts deliberated on various related issues and special sessions were deliberated by Priya Vaidya Project Head Mental health, Pallavi Belkhede Project Head Counseling, and the exercise was overseen by Director Rubaru, Ishita Manek.
Director School Education, Tasaduq Hussain Mir, in his address said that it is high time to address these issues and if the society does not address these issues of sensitive nature, the whole society is bound to deteriorate and suffer.
Personnel Officer to Director, Ata ul Munim Tak highlighted the fact that Child Sexual Abuse is rampant and more common than we know and it is not some stranger faraway but our family and friends who sadly commit this heinous act.
Requesting teachers to be aware and providing a safe environment to children to report such crimes, Ata Ul Munim Tak said that the teacher’s role is highly important if we want the society to act.
Mantasha Binti Rashid from Kashmir Women’s Collective said that denial of such issues only exacerbates them and the need of the hour is to dispel various myths around it and address it head on.
Ishita Manek thanked the Directorate of School Education Kashmir reiterating that it was the most facilitative government department across the country with which Ru Baroo has worked. Everything was organized smoothly and well in time, Manek said.
She narrated a story in which a 75 years old woman broke down after one such training saying she was abused in childhood and never spoke about it to anyone ever till 75 years of age suggesting that CSA is a very sensitive matter and leaves lifelong scars, physiological and psychological.
Teachers appreciated the daylong training and said that it was intense and thought-provoking. Pre and post-training feedback was taken from each teacher to assess the change in their attitude and understanding of the CSA. Teachers requested that such workshops be more frequent and sustainable.
