Child protection committees, in-house counsellors, SOPs to report abuse among measures to be implemented in PU colleges

The School Education Department (Pre-University) has issued a circular instructing all PU Colleges in the State to implement recommendations of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), including the formation of a Child Protection Committee and display of “Child Helpline no. 1098” in the colleges.

The principals of all government/aided/unaided PU colleges have been instructed to implement administrative, legal and psychological support systems for the protection of adolescent students.

In light of recent increase in cases of teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse, child marriages, elopements, and online sexual exploitation across the country and in the State, the KSCPCR has issued a set of detailed guidelines. During recent visits to PU colleges, the commission said it found that the necessary safeguard measures to prevent these dangers were not adequately in place.

Child Protection Committee

The circular issued by the department stated that the Child Protection Committees should be formed as per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy, 2016. Any information of sexual offence or child marriage should be reported immediately to the Police and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be implemented in this regard in every college, the circular stated.

A Code of Conduct should be implemented for all staff and students. All colleges must display the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on a permanent display board.

Counsellor 

The KSCPCR mandates that a qualified psychological counsellor should be appointed in every PU college. A parent-student-counsellor meeting should be held at least once every semester. A confidential grievance redressal mechanism should be established for students to lodge complaints confidential.

All students should be made to visit their nearest police station once a year under the ‘Open House’ programme. Adolescent health, sexual safety, online safety and legal awareness programmes should be conducted at least once every year. A digital safety and cyber security policy should be implemented in all colleges. Strict action should be taken against child pornography and online exploitation.

“In addition, psychological and social support measures such as establishing Per Support Groups/Buddy Systems in all colleges should be made so that students can provide psychological support to each other. Regular mental health screening should be conducted to detect stress, anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies among students,” Thippeswamy, member of KSCPCR, recommended.