Delhi to Establish Child Protection Committees in All Schools by July-End
Delhi will set up Child Protection Committees in all 5,633 schools across the capital by the end of July, following a high-level review meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday. The decision aims to strengthen child safety mechanisms beyond government-run institutions.
Expansion to All School Categories
According to officials, Child Protection Committees have already been established in all Delhi government schools. The initiative will now be extended to government-aided institutes, municipal corporation schools (MCD, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board), and private schools, covering the total of 5,633 schools.
Comprehensive Safety Checklist and Training
The Education Department informed the meeting that a comprehensive student safety checklist, based on guidelines from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, is being implemented across all schools. Teachers and staff are undergoing training under POCSO provisions, while students receive awareness sessions on safe and unsafe touch, gender sensitization, personal boundaries, and self-defense.
Delhi Police Intensifies Child Safety Initiatives
Delhi Police reported intensified child safety initiatives covering schoolchildren, missing children, and those in parks, sports complexes, JJ clusters, orphanages, and child care institutions. An Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police has been designated as the nodal officer for POCSO-related monitoring in every district.
Large-Scale Awareness Campaign
The Department of Women and Child Development outlined plans for a large-scale awareness campaign on the POCSO Act, covering Anganwadi-cum-Palna centres, linked Anganwadi centres, and all Child Care Institutions. The campaign will utilize awareness videos, mobile vans, and printed material to educate children, parents, and communities.
Permanent Child Protection System
Sandhu and Gupta directed that child protection measures should become a permanent feature of institutions rather than remain confined to July. They also instructed departments to ensure Educational and Vocational Guidance Counsellors are available in every school, complete master trainer training during the month, implement a standard operating procedure for handling POCSO cases, and conduct joint inspections of schools by teams comprising parents, education officials, Delhi Police, and school heads.
Coordinated Action and Rehabilitation
The meeting further directed Delhi Police to ensure prompt and coordinated action in all POCSO cases and called for counselling and rehabilitation of first-time juvenile offenders to facilitate their reintegration into society. Sandhu stated, “There is no room for complacency in ensuring a safe and sensitive environment for every child.” Gupta said the Delhi government aims to build a robust and permanent child protection system through close coordination among departments, ensuring every child in the capital grows up in a safe, secure, and dignified environment.
