In India, child sex abuse (CSA) has been on the rise.

As per National Crime Report Bureau 2016, two children are raped every hour.

It is not only an alarming state for child safety but also questions the values and integral principles of a nation. Moreover, when talking about child safety, it has often been misunderstood as physical violence or assault but it extends to child labour, emotional and mental neglect, discrimination, exploitation and also malnutrition. Child safety and security today has become a concern for parents.

As a nation, we have to think about the physical, social and emotional safety of children both at home and in a school environment. Child safety and security is a shared responsibility of all of us.

Preventive measures for child safety by parents and school authorities

Below are some preventive measures that must be taken by parents and guardians:

- Information - A child is closest to his/her parent. Hence, parents are the best people to ensure child safety. First and foremost, parents should ensure that their children know their full name, home address, residence and office phone number, etc.

- Check on people they meet – Parents should not leave their children alone in crowded places like the marketplace, railway station, bus stand and parks. Moreover, parents should have regular interactions with their child’s friends, neighbourhood friends and people their child meet.

- Transportation – Never leave your children unattended in a vehicle. They should be aware that they do not go with drivers they do not trust.

Parents need to cultivate a habit in their children to seek their permission or inform them before going out of the house. It would confirm their whereabouts to the parents.

- Consultative approach – There is no substitute for personal attention and supervision. In today’s era, where people have become more receptive and communicative, the concept of ‘generation gap’ no more exists. Children, now are comfortable in sharing their thoughts, feelings, and incidents with their parents. Hence, parents should also reserve a time of their day to consciously speak to their children and let them open up. Teach them about setting boundaries and distance when interacting with strangers.

At last, create an environment where children feel free to seek out help in case of an emergency.

Below are preventive steps that can be taken by the school authorities:

There are many challenges when maintaining child safety in a large organisation like school. Hence, below are some measures that will help school authorities to ensure child safety-

- CCTV coverage – Safety and security become easy with technology. Schools can install metal detectors outside the premises. CCTV cameras must be installed at every nook and corner of school with a strict supervision.

- Buddy system – To implement a caring and safety net for students, teach them a buddy system. In the absence of teachers, students should always accompany their friends when they are on school premises.

- Education and awareness - Most importantly, school authorities must make students aware of their fundamental rights. Role plays and open communication sessions can help students to learn how to say no and save themselves in critical situations.

We, at St. Kabir Indian International school, take initiatives to educate our students for their utmost safety by arranging their visit to programmes like MASOOM – a programme on child safety and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences). With the help of such programmes, students of best CBSE school in Baroda have become aware of the difference of good touch and bad touch. They can reach for help and approach adults for sensitive issues.