In a proactive move to ensure the safety and security of children in schools, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is set to introduce a comprehensive safety manual developed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). This decision follows two distressing incidents in Pimpri-Chinchwad, underlining the urgency for robust safety measures within educational institutions.
The decision to implement the safety manual comes after incidents that shook the community. In January, several female students were sexually assaulted in a private school in the Ravet area. Tragically, on February 16, a 14-year-old student lost his life after falling from the third floor while playing at PCMC-run Hutatma Chaphekar Vidya Mandir in Chinchwad.
Shekhar Singh, the municipal commissioner, stated that the modified manuals for the safety and security of children will be enforced starting next month. The manual will be made mandatory for public schools, urging private schools to adopt the same. Singh emphasized that, based on feasibility, some terms and conditions from the manual could be excluded as recommended by school teachers.
The safety manual, consisting of a detailed checklist with 146 rules and regulations, is designed to be practical for schools. Officials have indicated that certain rules and regulations will be modified to ease implementation. The ongoing International School Safety Week from March 4 to March 11 in PCMC schools serves as an opportune time to introduce these safety measures.
During a school management committee meeting on February 22, the safety manual was a focal point of discussion. Schools have been instructed to conduct self-assessments during the safety week, aligning with the manual’s guidelines. The implementation will occur in phases, covering eight different categories. A convention for private school principals is scheduled for next month, during which they will be urged to adopt the safety manual.
The comprehensive manual addresses various aspects of child safety, including rules, Acts, and guidelines such as the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005; Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (JJ) Act, 2015; guidelines on food safety and hygiene for schools; safety guidelines for school buses; instructions on bullying prevention and ragging in schools; and standards of safety and precautionary methods, among others.
