Srinagar, July 4: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Srinagar, has directed all government and private schools in the district to implement a series of mandatory child protection measures, including installation of CCTV cameras in school buses, constitution of Child Protection Committees and periodic training of staff on child safety laws.
According to a circular issued by the CWC, the committee, functioning as a Bench of the First Class Judicial Magistrate under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, said the directions are aimed at ensuring a safe and child-friendly environment in educational institutions.
The circular mandates periodic training for teaching, non-teaching and support staff, including transport personnel, 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 school buses and vans must not carry students beyond their approved seating capacity and should comply with all prescribed transport safety norms.
It also made it mandatory for every school bus and van to be equipped with functional CCTV cameras covering the passenger compartment. The surveillance system must remain operational throughout the journey, and recordings are to be preserved for production before competent authorities whenever required.
The committee directed schools to organise regular awareness programmes on bullying, cyberbullying, ragging, emotional abuse, discrimination and conflict resolution, besides establishing confidential reporting mechanisms to enable students to report grievances without fear.
Schools have also been asked to conduct age-appropriate awareness sessions on personal safety, body autonomy, good touch and bad touch, personal boundaries, online safety and reporting mechanisms for abuse.
The circular calls for a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment, intimidation or abusive behaviour against female teachers and women staff members, with institutions directed to ensure counselling and disciplinary action in accordance with law and institutional policy.
The CWC further directed all schools to constitute and operationalise Child Protection Committees or School Safety Committees to oversee implementation of safeguarding measures, address complaints and periodically review child protection practices.
Schools have also been instructed to engage counsellors or trained professionals for awareness and counselling sessions on child protection, mental health and emotional well-being, besides organising value-based education and co-curricular activities promoting empathy, discipline and gender sensitivity.
The committee made it mandatory for educational institutions to prominently display the Child Helpline number 1098 at key locations on school premises and on the rear glass of every school bus and van.
Reiterating statutory obligations under the POCSO Act, 2012, and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, the CWC directed school authorities to report every suspected case of child abuse, neglect or exploitation to the Special Juvenile Police Unit, police or other competent authorities without delay.
The committee warned that failure to report such incidents would amount to a violation of statutory provisions and could attract legal action under the applicable laws. (KNO)
