Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is making efforts towards the establishment of a Child Safety Committee in every municipal school, as well as Ward-Level Child Protection Committees (WLCPCs) in all 227 wards of Mumbai. The endeavour has been undertaken for the prevention of the sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation of minors at schools and other educational institutions.
The issue of child sexual abuse (CSA) at school and the subsequent need for safety measures was raised by MLA Chitra Wagh during a meeting with Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on 19th May, 2026. In response, the Mayor has tasked the BMC Education Department with the formulation of a policy in this regard along with the submission of its draft.
Another goal of the BMC besides the establishment of Child Safety Committees and WLCPCs is to enhance the existing safeguards provided by the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012. It also hopes to enforce preventative measures to ensure the increased safety of schoolgoing children.
Under the movement to make the Child Safety Committee a mandatory arm of an educational institution’s management, faculty, non-teaching staff, transport providers, sanitation workers, etc. will be required to undergo police verification and background checks. The instalment of CCTV cameras on a school’s premises (especially, sensitive areas like entrances and exits) and transport will be made similarly compulsory; these security systems are to undergo regular audits. Additionally, women safety officers and counselors are to be appointed at schools.
Students are to be made aware of their rights as children. They are to be educated on the difference between “good and bad touch”, cyber security, and the POCSO Act. Moreover, self-defense training is to be made a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Should an act of CSA take place at an educational institution, strict action under the provisions of the POCSO Act is to be taken against the perpetrator, as well as any individual found to be withholding information related to the crime. In the aftermath of such an incident, counselling, psychotherapy, and legal support is to be provided to the victim.
More information on the BMC’s work in the domain of public education is available at: https://bmceducation.in/
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