Delhi Schools Introduce 'Good Touch, Bad Touch' Sessions

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced on Thursday that all schools in Delhi will conduct 'good touch and bad touch' sessions as part of a POCSO awareness drive.

The initiative, which is supported by parents, teachers, Delhi Police, district magistrates, and anganwadi workers, aims to educate children on the difference between safe and unsafe touch.

As part of the drive, child protection committees will be set up in all 5,633 schools across Delhi by the end of July. Teachers and school staff will also undergo training on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

A comprehensive student safety checklist, prepared in line with guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), and the POCSO Act, is being implemented in all schools.

The checklist covers 1,077 Delhi government schools, 198 government-aided schools, 2,612 MCD, NDMC, and Delhi Cantonment Board schools, and 1,746 private schools.

Delhi Police has appointed an additional deputy commissioner of police-rank officer as a nodal officer in each district to monitor child safety-related cases and coordinate with the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC).

Educational and vocational guidance counsellors are conducting sessions on safe and unsafe touch, gender sensitisation, and personal boundaries, while students are also being provided self-defence training.

The Women and Child Development Department will carry out awareness campaigns on the POCSO Act at anganwadi-cum-palna centres, child care institutions, and other facilities through videos, mobile awareness vans, and publicity material.

The month-long campaign aims to strengthen child safety mechanisms across educational institutions and ensure that protection measures become a permanent part of school systems.

This initiative is a significant step towards creating a safer environment for children in Delhi's schools.

The POCSO awareness drive is a city-wide movement for child protection, and its success will depend on the active participation of all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and law enforcement agencies.

In the long run, this initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the safety and well-being of children in Delhi, and it may also serve as a model for other cities to follow.

Overall, the introduction of 'good touch, bad touch' sessions in Delhi schools is a welcome move, and it is hoped that it will contribute to a safer and more secure environment for children in the city.