The Tamil Nadu Forum for Creche and Child Care Services (TN-FORCES) has urged the School Education Department to formulate and come out with a child protection policy in schools as early as possible.
A resolution to this effect was adopted at the 26th annual general body meeting of TN-FORCES held here recently.
Representatives of various districts including Tiruchi, Cuddalore, Chennai, Dharmapuri, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Madurai and Perambalur districts took part in the meeting presided over by the TN-FORCES convenor K. Shanmugavelayutham.
The Forum said there were at least 18 separate Central laws and guidelines relating to safety of children. These include guidelines from the Central Board of Secondary Education, National Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Health and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
In addition to these, the Tamil Nadu government has issued their own guidelines relating to safety in schools.
Despite all these regulations, their implementation was tardy with no monitoring system, the Forum claimed.
Though there number of laws, rules, guidelines and directions available for child protection, these were piecemeal and adhoc, it further claimed.
There was no comprehensive mechanism and guidelines for child protection in schools.
Hence, it was imperative that the School Education Department should formulate and come out with child protection policy in schools as early as possible, the resolution said.