National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development

Regional Centre, Indore

Workshop on POCSO (Amendment) Act, 2019 for School Principal, Teachers and
Counsellor
(Date: 10-11 Oct, 2019; Venue NIPCCD, RC Indore)

Programme Design

I. Introduction

Sexual offences are a violation of human rights. They are condemnable, reprehensive and
repugnant to what we stand for – human dignity and rights of individuals. They are acts of
perversion, perpetuated with feeling of hatred, intended to hurt, brutal and unwilling and
unsolicited gratification of personal needs. Sexual offences against women and children has
attained an alarming situation witnessing rampant increase in reported cases of sexual abuse over
the recent years. This has become a matter of great concern and challenge for policy makers and
civil society at national level. The demand for more punitive legal provisions for protection of
children against Sexual offences has gained momentum in last couple of years. Though child sexual
offences are dealt IPC and juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000, however the
provision made under these laws have proved to be inadequate to protect children against sexual
offences. In view of all these, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India
passed an Act on Protection of Children against sexual offences (POCSO) Act 2012 on 19 th June 2012
after wide ranging consultations at different levels

Parliament passed the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The bill
seek to amend Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. In exercise of the
Powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences
(Amendment) Act, 2019 (25 of 2019), the Central Government appointed the 16th August, 2019 as
the date on which the said Act come into force. Hon’ble Minister, Women and Child Development
Smt Smriti Irani, said 6.20 lakh sexual offenders were listed in the national database and they were
being tracked by investigative agencies. The government was working to create 1023 fast track
courts under the Nirbhaya fund to provide quick justice in cases of crimes against women. Eighteen
states have come on board to see that these courts are established between 2019-20 and 2020-21.
The Bill provides for levying fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography and the strong penal,
act as a deterrent to curb child sex abuse.

The POCSO Act has Nine (9) Chapters and 46 sections. Similarly, there are seven (7) POCSO Rules.
The Act declares in the preamble that ‘’it is imperative that law operates in a manner that the best
interest and well being of the child are regarded of paramount importance at every stage, to ensure
the healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the child’’.

The objective of the POCSO Act is to protect children from (a) sexual assault; (b) sexual harassment
and (c) pornography. The Act is gender – neutral. The Act Identifies six types of sexual offences and
prescribes appropriate punishment for the same. The six types of sexual offences are:

 Penetrative Sexual Assault

 Aggravated Penetrative Sexual Assault
 Sexual Assault
 Aggravated Sexual Assault
 Sexual Harassment
  Using child for Pornographic Purpose

Major Stakeholders for complementing the Act are the police/Special Juvenile Police Unit
(SJPU), Judiciary, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) under the JJ Act, Probation Officers,
Counsellors, Child Care Institution (CCls) personnel, interpreters/translators, the medical fraternity,
school principals/teachers, the community, family and relatives of the victim child and the child
itself.
One of the reports titled: ‘Breaking the Silence: Child Sexual Abuse in India’ released by
Human Rights Watch on Abuse in Schools also indicates that ‘Teachers and other school staff hold
positions of trust and authority. Yet, when cases of sexual abuse are exposed, schools sometimes
choose to deny or discredit the victims. For example, officials ignored serious complaints made by 11
girls staying at a hostel attached to primary schools in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh state in central
India. Even though the allegations were investigated, no action was taken for months. In some cases
authorities feel such matters are too complicated for them to handle, hence are dropped. In one of
several recently reported cases, a driver and conductor were accused of raping a seven-year-old girl
in Ghaziabad, near New Delhi, for months on a regular basis after they had dropped off the other
children. According to press reports, the girl’s parents complained to the school, which did nothing’.
As Children spend more time in school than anywhere else outside their homes, schools have an
important role to play in protecting children from violence. Hence, as recommended in the report,
‘Schools across India need to introduce rigorous child protection measures. Teachers and managers
need to do much more to ensure that all Schools are safe’. School authorities are often reluctant to
approach the police on a child’s complaint. In some cases, they even turn judges of their own cause.
This is when the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, (Section 21)holds school
authorities liable for imprisonment if found guilty of failure to report a complaint of abuse’.

It is therefore, very important that they be well oriented and sensitized to the provisions of
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, 2019 and Rules there under. Some
educational Institutions like, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti have also drafted a set of guidelines to
prevent sexual abuse for their Vidyalayas. The aim of such guidelines is to create a healthy
environment for its students, to protect them from any act of sexual abuse, to define the
mechanism for raising awareness among staff and students and setting a process of accepting
complaint of students, their investigation and appropriate action on the findings of the enquiries.

School can play an important role in dissemination of provisions of provisions of POCSO Act
2019 and thereby contribute in protection of children from sexual offenses. Keeping this in view,
NIPCCD Regional Centre, Indore Organizing a two days ‘Workshop on POCSO (Amendment) Act,
2019 for school Principal and Teachers’ on 10-11 Oct, 2019 at its premises.

II. Objectives:
The main objectives of the workshop would be to:
 Discuss the sexual offenses against children and their effect on children;
 Deliberate upon role of Parents/ Teachers/Counsellors in identification of child
sexual abuse and protecting child in reference to Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences Act ; and
 Discuss the problem encountered in the implementation of the Act and evolve the
mechanism within school to handle cases under Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences Act, and enlisting support of other stakeholders.

III. Content:
The workshop would cover: Child Rights: An Overview; Salient features of Protection
of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Rules, 2019; communication with
school children on child sexual offences and guarding against them; association with
 police/SJPUs in implementation of POCSO Act and Rules, 2019 by school authorities
and staff; developing a strong system of action against abusers and preventing
sexual offices in school.

IV. Outcome:
Participant will be able to handle cases of Child sexual abuse in their schools more
effectively. The participants will be awarded a certificate of participation on
conclusion of the programme.

V. Participants’ Profile:
The workshop will be attended by School Principal, Teachers and Counsellors from school of
western Region State.
VI. Training Methods:
Emphasis would be given on participatory approach of learning. The participants will be
given handouts and background materials on the related topics. Case Discussion, Lecture
cum discussion, audio-visual presentation, Group discussion, group exercise etc. will be a
part of the training.
VII. Course Faculty:
Course faculty will include faculty from NIPCCD and experts from Govt. and Non-govt.
organizations.
VIII. Boarding & Lodging:
The Institute will make free stay arrangements for all the participants for the entire
duration of the workshop and one day before and after the programme i.e. 09th – 12th
October, 2019 at the Hostel of the Institute located at BadaBangarda, GomatGiri, (Opp.
MPSEB Power House) Hathod Road, Gandhi Nagar, Indore, MP [The Institute is located
nearby INDORE AIR PORT, famous Jain Temple Gomatgri, Hathod Road, Indore (From Indore
Air port 6-7 Km, Railway Station Bus Stand 15Km)].

IX. Tatkal and Premium fares/fees/charges are not reimbursable.

X. Venue and Duration:

The duration of the programme will be for two days i.e. from 10-11 Oct, 2019 and held at
NIPCCD Western Regional Centre, Indore
XI. Travel allowances/ Grants:
i. All Govt. Official are requested to claim their Travel Allowance from their respective
departments. The private school representatives would reimburse to and fro AC Ill Rail or
Bus fare for attending the training programme by the shortest route (except Rajdhani,
Shatabdi & Duranto) from the place of work for attending workshop. Travel grant of the
participants will be reimbursed only after completion of training programme.
ii. The local participants would be paid actual expenditure on local conveyance subject to a
ceiling to Rs 100/- each way.
iii. Outstation private school participants are also entitled for local conveyance @ Rs 300/- for
each way.
iv. The programme will commence at 9.30 am on 10 October, 2019 and therefore
the participants are requested to reach the hostel of the Institute by the evening of 09
October, 2019.
v. Institute is located at the distance about 15 Km from Indore Railway/ Bus Station. The
 Institute is located opposite to MPSEB Power House off road of a famous Jain Temple
Gomatgri, Hathod Road. It is situated about 6-7 Km from Devi Ahilyabai Holkar airport
VI. Due to limited hostel accommodation, boarding and lodging facility is for the
Participant’s only. The Institute will not be in a position to extend these facilities for the
accompanying members.
VII. The entry at the Institute's hostel will be on the basis of a valid ID proof (Identity card
issued by Government for government officials and/or PAN card, Election ID card,
Driving license, Aadhar card etc.)
VIII. The Institute will be providing nominal accommodation for participants for this course
period and a day before and after the course.
IX. The participants reporting late to the training programmes or leaving it before its
conclusion will not be entitled to certificate.
X. Autos (magic)/Buses plying from Indore railway station that stop at Gandhinagar/Gomargiri
are also convenient to reach Institute. The participants are advised to proceed for the
training only after receiving confirmation from the Institute.

For further information please contact:

Regional Director
National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development
Western Regional Centre, Indore
BadaBangarda, GomatGiri, Opp. MPSEB Power House
Hathod Road, Indore-453 112
Phone: 0731 -2882111, 2882112. Telefax: 0731-2882110
E-Mail: rdnipccdin@rediffmail.com /
OR
Shri Sumit Duggal, Asstt. Director & Course Director
sumitduggal.nipccd@gov.in, 7000127656