CWC Srinagar Issues Comprehensive Child Safety Guidelines for Schools
Makes CCTV, Staff Training and Mandatory Reporting Compulsory; Schools Directed to Form Child Protection Committees, Install CCTV in School Vehicles, Display Child Helpline 1098 and Strengthen Anti-Bullying Mechanisms
Srinagar, July 4: In a major step aimed at strengthening child protection and ensuring safer educational environments, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Srinagar has issued a comprehensive set of mandatory directions for all Government and Private Schools in the district, covering child safety, school transport, anti-bullying measures, counselling, staff training and legal reporting obligations.
According to Circular No. 05 of 2026 dated July 4, issued by the Child Welfare Committee (Bench of 1st Class Judicial Magistrate), a copy of which lies with news agency JKNS, the directions have been issued in exercise of the Committee’s statutory powers under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 to ensure safe, secure and child-friendly educational institutions.
The Committee has directed that all teaching, non-teaching and support staff, including school transport personnel, shall undergo mandatory and periodic capacity-building programmes on child protection laws, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, mandatory reporting obligations, identification of children in need of care and protection, positive discipline and institutional safeguarding practices.
To enhance the safety of children during transportation, the circular makes it mandatory for every school to ensure that buses and other transport vehicles do not carry children beyond their approved seating capacity. It further directs that every school bus and school van must be equipped with functional CCTV cameras covering the passenger compartment. The CCTV systems must remain operational throughout the journey, recordings should be securely preserved for an appropriate period and made available to competent authorities whenever required under law.
The Committee has also directed schools to organise regular awareness and sensitisation programmes for students on bullying, cyberbullying, ragging, emotional abuse, discrimination, conflict resolution and respectful behaviour. Schools have been instructed to establish effective anti-bullying mechanisms and confidential reporting systems to enable students to report incidents without fear.
Recognising the need for preventive education, the circular mandates periodic age-appropriate awareness sessions on personal safety, body autonomy, personal boundaries, good touch and bad touch, online safety and the importance of reporting abuse to trusted adults or designated authorities.
The Committee has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards harassment or misconduct against women employees in educational institutions. Schools have been instructed to take strict action against any student found intimidating, harassing or abusing female teachers or women staff members through appropriate counselling, disciplinary intervention and corrective measures while ensuring the rights of children are protected.
Further, every Government and Private educational institution has been directed to constitute and operationalise a Child Protection Committee or School Safety Committee to oversee implementation of safeguarding measures, promptly address complaints and periodically review child protection practices within the institution.
The circular also emphasises the importance of counselling and value-based education. Schools have been instructed to regularly engage counsellors or trained professionals to conduct programmes relating to child protection, mental health and emotional well-being. Institutions have also been asked to organise moral value education sessions and co-curricular activities promoting empathy, compassion, discipline, mutual respect, responsible citizenship and gender sensitivity among students.
To improve accessibility to emergency assistance, all schools have been directed to prominently display the Child Helpline Number 1098 in bold letters at the main entrance, notice boards, corridors, staff rooms, counselling rooms and on the rear glass panels of every school bus and school van.
Reiterating the legal responsibilities of educational institutions, the Child Welfare Committee reminded all school authorities that they are under a statutory obligation to report every case of suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation or any offence against a child to the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU), Police or other competent authorities in accordance with the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. It warned that failure to report such incidents may invite legal consequences under the applicable laws. (JKNS)