- 5 depts, Primary and Secondary Education, Woman and Child Development, Police, Transport and Health Departments, are working together to develop inter-departmental guidelines that will be made applicable to schools across the State.
- The proposals will be looked over by the Law Dept before being set for govt approval.
- Key recommendations that are likely to be adopted:
- A panel comprising of the principal, school staff, police personnel, psychiatrist or psychologist and security personnel in each school to look into the issue of safety and security of children.
- Mandatory registration of their address, details of faculty members and student roster along with their address and contact numbers at the jurisdictional police station.
- Installation of CCTV cameras on school premises which are monitored everyday by at least 2 people.
- Background checks of candidates before they are given employment in schools.
- Schools in secluded places should mandatorily hire security providers.
- Any obscene messages sent to children should be brought to the notice of the police, and complaints, if any, should be made to the committee.
- The members of the committee are well-versed with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act).
- Schools would also be asked to conduct workshops on “good touch and bad touch” to educate children.
- Read at:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/five-departments-working-on-safety-guidelines-to-be-followed-by-schools/article6239470.ece