The school is responsible for keeping children safe from harm and abuse and should create a safe learning environment. Schools also need to train staff in child protection.
Majority of sexual harassment cases are perpetrated by someone known to the child or in a position of trust and responsibility and as such most children do not report the abuse to anyone.
The need of the hour is to constitute mobile counselling centres in schools to provide free counselling to students. The Directorate of Education has to take up measures to prevent sexual abuse of children in schools and complaint boxes should be set up in schools which have to be opened every week.
The schools must also constitute separate committees for redressal of grievances of the staff, parents and students and form an internal committee for complaints regarding sexual harassment under Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act, 2012.
