Tuesday, 30 January 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) directed the education department officers of all the districts of the State to constitute Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) committee in every school. Providing this information on Monday, SCPCR Member, Vinod Kaparwan said that taking a serious view of the spiralling crimes against children across the State and sexual exploitation they face within their school premises, the commission had called a meeting with the education department officers of each district of the State. “At this meeting, we directed them to ensure that every school in the State has a POCSO committee,” he added.
Kaparwan further said that with the guidelines for forming the committee incorporated into the Right to Education (RTE) Act, some schools have already formed such committees while many are still dithering. “The committee should consist of principals, women teachers and one representative from the education department,” he said, adding that the commission was convinced that the constitution of the POCSO committee in each school would help drastically bring down the number of crimes on and exploitation of children.
Stressing on the commission’s commitment to have this directive executed on the ground, he said that the commission would conduct random inspections of schools to see whether the directive is complied with or not. “In case we find noncompliance, we will take stern action against the errant school managements,” he said.
Kaparwan informed that the commission has also formed an internal committee for the upcoming national workshop slated in Doon. The internal committee includes members of the police department, health department and education department and they would make the children aware of their rights to be used against abuses, online cybercrime and its prevention, he added.
To recall, SCPCR is all set to host a national workshop in Doon on February 14 meant to enhance and advocate for child rights. Recently, the chairperson of SCPCR Geeta Khanna had stated that the workshop would focus on its objective of strengthening child rights across the country. The chairpersons of SCPCR from each State along with their secretaries have been invited to participate in the national workshop.
