Gurgaon District Magistrate Shekhar Vidyarthi Wednesday issued orders for strict compliance by all schools in Gurgaon district with the provisions regarding safety of children under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, an official said.
These orders shall apply to all educational institutions, pre-schools, residential childcare, creche, shelter facilities run for children, schools and NGOs for children with special needs, therapy centres, play centres, academies or centres set up for skill enhancement in sports, dance, music, tutorials and other extra-curricular activities where more than 10 children under the age of 18 years are tutored in the premises.
Vidyarthi said the safety of children in the school and during travel by school transport or while on school trips or when on the premises for any special classes is the sole responsibility of the school management.
He said that the orders specifically aim to achieve safety of school children by ensuring that schools take responsibility and take action to prevent mishaps like risk of kidnapping and abuse, be it verbal, physical or sexual by any staff member or older student or any person while on the premises or travelling in school transport.
"It is responsibility of the school management to protect the children from bullying and threats by older children," he said.
Specific attention has been drawn towards the problem of older children seeking protection money or favours from younger children.
Similarly, the schools are responsible for protecting the child from cyber bullying or abuse on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube etc by circulation of undesirable or objectionable material involving school children by students or staff.
The schools have been asked to make adequate preparations to mitigate the impact of natural calamities like earthquakes, floods etc.
The concerned government authorities have been asked to ensure compliance with these orders with immediate effect.
