Central WCD and HRD ministries to hold high-level meeting on child safety in schools

The meeting will be co-chaired by the Minister of Women & Child Development, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi and Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javdekar.

Officials of the two ministries, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, CBSE, NCERT, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, etc. will participate in the meeting.

A release from the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development said that Maneka Gandhi has requested HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to consider suggestions like having women employees as the support staff and bus drivers/conductors in schools, screening of educational films on child sexual abuse in schools, popularizing POCSO e-Box and Childline 1098 through NCERT publications and having strict norms for employing the support staff.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has already started its outreach campaign for protection of children through electronic as well as social media.the release said.

Maneka Gandhi stated that the basic objective of the meeting of the two ministries is to develop a set of guidelines and protocols which schools must follow so that the children remain protected from any kind of abuse or physical/ mental harm.

The WCD Minister further stated that the parents, guardians and teachers should remain vigilant about the children as well as their behavior and any suspected situation should be reported immediately on the Childline No.1098 and the POCSO e-Box (http://www.ncpcr.gov.in/user_complaints.php).

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear on Friday a plea filed by two women lawyers seeking implementation of existing guidelines to ensure children's safety in schools, according to media reports.

Image: ManekaGandhi/Twitter