HOW DO YOU PROTECT CHILDREN IN SCHOOL?

Tamil Nadu schools have set up student safeguarding advisory committees to prevent sexual harassment. Now, the Madras High Court has ordered internal complaints committees as well.

- Atul Krishna

In late November, the Madras High Court, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on mobile counselling vehicles in schools not functioning, asked the Tamil Nadu government to form anti-sexual harassment policy in all schools. It also noted that many schools did not have functioning Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs).

The order came against the backdrop of several cases of sexual harassment against children by adults in Tamil Nadu.

Child right activists said that the government should look to strengthen existing systems and improve teacher training to support and identify vulnerable children. They also said that there should be better monitoring of crimes against children in private schools, which have featured in some of the recent cases of sexual harassment.

Better response, increased awareness

Child rights activists said the high number of reported cases in Tamil Nadu is a function of the grievance redress system's responsiveness, although it is difficult to say whether the system works uniformly well across the state.

"In Tamil Nadu it is because the mechanisms are better, more responsive. That is why more incidents are coming up.... It shows that if the system is accessible and responsive then children are ready to go and file complaints," said Andrew Sesuraj, a child rights activist and public policy consultant.

They also said that the various awareness campaigns and social media have worked, raising awareness. "Now, even in rural areas, girl students are aware of sexual harassment due to the work of NGOs and other organisations. Social media is also creating a lot of awareness among children," said K Murthy, state convenor of the Right to Education Forum, an advocacy group.