STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE POCSO ACT

STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE POCSO ACT

30-OCT-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR-------------------------A legal awareness camp was organized on Thursday at Bihar Central School, Buxar, with the objective of protecting children from sexual abuse, informing them about their legal rights, and raising awareness regarding their own safety. Held under the ‘Safe Childhood Campaign’ (Surakshit Bachpan Abhiyan) by the District Legal Services Authority, Buxar—following directives from the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi—the camp provided students with information regarding the provisions of the POCSO Act, 2012. Addressing the gathering, Harshvardhan Singh, Principal Magistrate of the Juvenile Justice Board, Buxar, advised children to remain vigilant regarding their rights and personal safety. He emphasized the importance of teaching children—from a young age—to distinguish between 'good touch' and 'bad touch,' enabling them to recognize uncomfortable situations and seek help in a timely manner.

During the session, students were provided with a detailed explanation of 'good touch' and 'bad touch.' They learned to differentiate between contact that makes them feel safe and comfortable, and contact that evokes fear, discomfort, or unease. Children were encouraged to be mindful of the safety of their private body parts and were urged never to ignore inappropriate behavior from anyone.

Students were instructed that if someone attempts to touch them inappropriately—or asks them to keep such an act a secret—they should clearly say 'no,' move to a safe place, and immediately inform their parents, teachers, or another trusted adult. It was also clarified that a child is never to blame for such an incident and should never hesitate to seek help.

The program highlighted the significance of the POCSO Act, 2012, explaining that this law provides protection against sexual offenses. Students and teachers were encouraged to be sensitive toward children and to report any suspicious incidents to the appropriate authorities or designated individuals.

For assistance in emergencies, the Child Helpline Information regarding the helpline number 1098 was also provided, ensuring that children and their guardians could seek assistance if the need arises.

Panel advocate Manoj Kumar Srivastava and Para-Legal Volunteer (PLV) Brajesh Kumar were present at the camp. Sudhir Kumar, Ashok Kumar Singh, and office attendant Sunil Kumar, representing the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), assisted in conducting the event.

From the school, Secretary Saroj Singh, Vice-Principal Vinay Kumar Tiwari, and teachers Varun Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Md. Chand, and Md. Ateek were in attendance. Among the students, Prapti Pandey, Rajlakshmi, Sheetal Kumari, Shwetank Pandey, and Abhishek Singh participated actively.

At the conclusion of the program, the District Legal Services Authority, Buxar, expressed its gratitude to the school management, teachers, and students for their cooperation. The camp served to raise awareness among children regarding the importance of a safe environment, their individual rights, and the legal protections available to them.