Kozhikode: POCSO sensitisation for teachers

KOZHIKODE: Following the successful implementation of the ALERT project for  the police in the district, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in association with Childline India Foundation, police and education department would offer classes to over  21,000 teachers in the district. They  would be sensitised on the child-friendly laws and their complications, said the officials. “More importance would be given to the POCSO Act and how to report the cases  promptly to  the police, Childline, DLSA etc. A project report for the same was submitted to the KELSA and once the approval comes, the project would start by the end of this month,” said Childline Kozhikode project coordinator M.P. Muhammedali.

In many cases, the non-reporting of the crimes also land the teachers or related officials in trouble. “Non-reporting of the POCSO cases is also a crime and punishable. Many teachers and officials are unaware of this and land in trouble. The teachers should be sensitised on how to report the crime and how to reserve the identity of the victims,” said the coordinator.

The classes are envisioned in batches of 150 and covering the higher secondary school section in the first stage. A meeting of the sub-judge, lawyers, top police officers and  education department officials has to be called before the launch and training should be given to the resource persons. Recently, the Kozhikode DLSA was  selected as the best in the state following its child--friendly activities, including ALERT and ‘Balasuraksha Yathra’.