The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has announced that schools across the state will observe an child abuse awareness from November 25 to 29. This initiative follows reports highlighting that several safety measures mandated by a 2021 government order, including the formation of safety committees and awareness programmes, have not been fully implemented in many schools.
During the awareness week, house heads in schools will address students about the Manavar Manasu scheme during the morning assembly. The scheme aims to provide students with an anonymous channel to report grievances through complaint boxes placed in government schools. Additionally, schools are required to ensure that their Student Safeguarding Advisory Committees are operational.
The advisory committees will consist of the headmaster, two teachers, two PTA members, a school management committee member, a non-teaching staff member, and optionally, an external member. These committees must organize a one-day awareness session for parents on November 28 or 29, and submit compliance reports to the Chief Educational Officer. Complaints collected in the complaint boxes must also be addressed during these sessions. In cases of sexual abuse complaints, the committee is instructed to immediately contact helplines 14417 or 1098.
The department has tasked Chief Educational Officers (CEOs) with collecting reports on the number of schools that held committee meetings and the actions taken based on the grievance complaints. Furthermore, all headmasters of high and higher secondary schools, both government and private, in Chennai must attend a legal seminar on the POCSO Act on November 26.
However, child rights activists have expressed concern, urging the department to implement a more comprehensive and long-term safety plan for schools. “Rather than conducting one-off events, the department needs to collaborate with child rights organizations and the social welfare department to ensure sustained efforts to prevent child abuse,” stated an activist.
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