Govt plans ‘help box' in schools to protect kids from domestic abuse
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The move comes in the wake of the Class IV girl's harrowing ordeal. The incident came to light when a teacher of Hidayathul Islam LP School, Nooranad in Alappuzha district, noticed what the child wrote in her notebook about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepmother and father.
Speaking to the media after visiting the child at Charummoodu, Sivankutty said violence against children would not be tolerated at any cost.
Govt is addressing this issue with utmost seriousness and will ensure all necessary protection and support for the child, he said.
General education department is formulating Suraksha Mitram that will help identify the sufferings experienced by children and will provide necessary protection to them, said Sivankutty.
To achieve this goal, a 'help box' will be installed in all schools where students can submit their complaints and bad experiences in a confidential manner.
The headmaster or headmistress, in-charge of this, should open it at least once a week and the issues raised should be assessed and reported to the education department for further action.
Teachers will be given special training to enable them in observing children for behavioural changes and identifying issues by interacting with them in a friendly way. Ideas like diary writing or zero hours will provide students with opportunities to interact freely and openly with teachers.
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The project envisages turning teachers into primary counsellors for the students. This will be helpful in resolving teenage, physical and mental issues students of secondary and higher secondary classes face. Discussions were held between general education secretary, Child Development Centre, career guidance and counselling department and women and child development department in this regard.
The project will be implemented with the support of women and child development, social justice and local body departments and their help will be sought to provide necessary medical support, counselling and rehabilitation of the children.
The functioning of the existing child welfare committee and helpline 1098 will be made more efficient.
The existing parental clinics for providing counselling to parents with problems will be made more active. Facilities like govt homes and other special homes functioning for children, who need protection, will be put to greater use.
Director of public education will bring out a standard operating procedure for the safety and protection of children along the lines of Lahari Vimuktha Keralam project, said Sivankutty. He said govt was committed to ensuring the protection of children and sought everyone's cooperation for it.
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