All schools in Delhi will conduct awareness sessions on ‘good touch and bad touch’ this month as part of a city-wide campaign to strengthen the safety and awareness of children under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO).Announcing the initiative on Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the POCSO Awareness Month aims to make child protection measures a permanent part of school systems.“Delhi’s POCSO Awareness Month is more than an awareness campaign. This July, all schools in Delhi will conduct awareness sessions on good touch and bad touch, implement mandatory child safety protocols and submit compliance reports within 15 days,” Gupta said, according to PTI.
Child protection committees in all schools
By the end of July, child protection committees will be created in the 5,633 schools of the national capital. Teachers and school staff will also receive training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO).According to an official statement quoted by PTI, a student safety checklist prepared in accordance with the guidelines issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) and the POCSO Law it is being implemented in all schools.The checklist includes 1,077 Delhi government schools, 198 government-aided schools, 2,612 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board schools, along with 1,746 private schools.
Police, counselors and anganwadis to support the campaign
Gupta said the campaign will be supported by parents, teachers, Delhi Police, district magistrates and anganwadi workers.Educational and Career Guidance Counselors (EVGC) will conduct sessions on safe and unsafe touch, gender awareness and personal boundaries, while students will also receive training in self-defense. The Department of Women and Child Development will organize awareness activities at anganwadi-cum-palna centers and child care institutions, PTI reported.