Lok Sabha Question No. 4003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-28
Subject: Role of NGOs/Social Organisations Towards Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4003 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2022

## Role of NGOs/Social Organisations Towards Education

4003. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  agrees  with  the  view  that  Non--Governmental  Organizations (NGOs)  and  other  social  organizations  should  reach  out  to  schools  and  start  educating students about good touch and bad touch so that seniors and relatives do not exploit them;

(b) if so, the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard; and

(c) if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a)  to  (c):  To  create  an  understanding  of  good  touch  and  bad  touch  among  children,    the Ministry    of    Women    and    Child    Development  commissioned  a    short    animated    film "KOMAL" on good touch and bad touch. This film has been circulated to all States and UTs for  sensitization  of  children  and  institutions  on  the  subject.  The    film    is    accessible    on Youtube    in    English,  Hindi    and    regional    languages.  It  has  also  been  uploaded  on  the website of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Academics and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

Department of School Education and  Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education has developed  Guidelines  on  School  Safety  and  Security  of  children  studying  in  Government, Government-aided and Private Schools. The guidelines are advisory in nature and have been circulated to all States/UTs/autonomous bodies of DoSEL and stakeholder ministries. These guidelines inter-alia includes suggestive approach to integrating learning about school safety in  the  education  of  children  wherein  there  is  provision  of  safety  inspection  as  teachinglearning  activity/group  activity  in  a  classroom  for  older  children  which  includes  socioemotional safety.

Further,  these  guidelines  also  have  the  provisions  of  'Periodic  Safety  inspection  of school' under which the School/School Management have been advised to arrange to carry out  thorough inspection  of the school  at  least  once  in  a  quarter,  during  school  hours.  This quarterly inspection of schools, inter-alia, ensures compliance of the psychosocial safety and support,  using  the  comprehensive  checklist  given  in  the  guidelines,  which  includes  points related to orientation of students on personal safety, e.g., the difference between 'safe touch' and 'unsafe touch'.

Under  National  Initiative  for  School  Heads'  and  Teachers'  Holistic  Advancement (NISHTHA), a nation-wide integrated teacher training program for teachers under Samagra Shiksha,  teachers  have  been  oriented  on  counselling,  provisions  of  POCSO  Act,  Juvenile Justice  Act,  School  Safety  guidelines,  helpline  and  emergency  numbers,  drop-box  for complaints, etc. Further, teachers are also trained to develop and understand about pedagogical  processes  to  be  adopted  in  order  to  develop  healthy  attitudes  and  behaviours among children.

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