Seminar on making the POCSO Act operational within schools

A National Seminar cum Consultation Session to help operationalise POCSO ( Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) within schools was held on 6th February 2016, from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm at the Moolchand Medcity. The seminar was organised by Expressions India an association known to organise life skills, health and wellness programmes for schools.

The workshop was inaugurated by Ms.Rashmi Saxena Sahni, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. Other guests of honour on the occasion were Dr. Vivek Joshi, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and Mr. B.C Pant, Director, Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti, Noida.

The thrust of the seminar was to raise awareness amongst schools and students about the POCSO Act. As per CBSE guidelines, all affiliated schools need to adhere to the guidelines specified in the POSCO Act, to prevent sexual exploitation in schools.

During the seminar, the POCSO Act 2012 and the Child Abuse Report 2007 were reviewed and discussed. The legal implications of the Act were also reflected upon. Delegates shared their views and suggested several practices to make the POSCO Act operational in schools. There were inputs from principals of various schools too, which offered valuable insight.

Many felt the need to create a healthy environment to overcome challenges such as gender inequality, eve-teasing and sexual abuse. Suggestions were made to develop training programmes to increase awareness amongst teachers and other employees working in schools to enable them to address these issues appropriately. The continuous sensitisation of children towards this issue through classroom activities was also recommended. Proposals such as gender sensitization activities, self-defence training for girls, setting up of complaint committees, complaint boxes and counselling provisions were put forth to carry forward this programme.

The participants benefited greatly through the discussion and felt better equipped to adopt practices within their schools in support of POSCO. Our Principal, Ms. Tania Joshi stressed that schools need to play a proactive role and teachers need to take the lead, in connecting with their children in order to make it work.

Our school too has initiated this process by creating awareness amongst teachers and other employees about POSCO and how to deal with issues as they arise. Students are also being periodically sensitised to remain alert about the menace and to freely report to parents and teachers in the event of a problem.

Ms. Pratima Roy.