Laws related to sexual abuse such as Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Right to Education Act, Juvenile Justice Act and many others are applicable to schools, however, the latter are not aware of their roles. "Schools need to work closely with children to make sure any such incident does not go unnoticed. Reporting is mandatory and an important part of POCSO where the schools, especially the principal, play an important role," said inspector Dnyaneshwar Wagh (crime branch).
Schools need to put in place a hierarchy. "When any member of the school comes to know of an incident, s/he must know whom to report it to. Schools must also draft child protection policies for the staff to follow," said Maharukh Adenwala, a child rights lawyer.
Experts also urged principals and managements to take the lead in protecting the rights of children, beyond the walls of schools. "We need to understand that the Juvenile Justice Act is not only to deal with kids in conflict with the law but also to ensure care and protection," said Santosh Shinde, an activist. "If incidents of abuse or need for protection are brought to the notice of the school, authorities must trust the child and approach the police or the child welfare committee," he said.
Principals said they were often in a spot while addressing issues involving two students. "In case two peers are involved, schools can involve the parents and counsellors to speak to the children," said Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist.
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