'Don't want these children to face what I did': Bihar, Delhi initiatives are raising awareness on child rights

By R. Radhika

NEW DELHI: On a regular day at school, Khushboo Anand finds time to set the textbooks aside and teach her young students how to tell a good touch from a bad one. Students of Class 2 in the Upgraded Middle School (UMS) Kathoun, in Banka district of Bihar, take turns to stand in front of Anand as she touches each part of their bodies. When a student feels uncomfortable, they bat her hand away, showing that it was, in fact, a bad touch.

Other days, lessons are about kidnapping and how to refuse to accompany a stranger even if they claim to be an acquaintance or friend. Although such training sessions are not part of the official school curriculum, for Anand these life lessons are equally important for students, if not more. In November 2023, her video posted by Teachers of Bihar – an online platform that shares innovations and best practices of teachers — went viral on social media garnering over a million views.

“While there are laws to protect children, prevention of such incidents is always the best strategy. Students at this age are extremely vulnerable to predators. I have been a victim of this predatory behaviour. I don’t want any of these children to face what I did. My experience teaches me that early awareness of rights and responsibilities is the only defence that matters,” Anand told Careers360.

Laws like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act were seldom discussed with children but are now finding space in school classrooms.

Complicated legal terms, offences and their consequences are simplified with real-life examples to make students understand the nuances of crime against children.

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Teaching them young

While Anand’s efforts are limited to her school, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has initiated the same exercise in several Delhi government schools.

The DCPCR and Sambhavna Centre for Research and Advocacy on Child Rights and Persons with Disability (CRACR and PD) partnered to launch ‘Mera Kanoon Mera Dost’ to raise awareness on child rights, legal facts, and constitutional provisions among school students.

Through three-house sessions with groups of 60 students, the initiative disseminates vital information. So far, the programme has covered 670 students across 10 government schools in Delhi. Important topics include child rights, the Constitution, laws for children, the Right to Education, Child and Adolescent Labour Prohibition Act, Prevention of Child Marriage Act, cyber safety, and relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

“The challenge is to make them (young students) comfortable and not teach them about laws in a manner that goes beyond statutes and technical law language. Practical knowledge is imparted in a manner that a student understands and identifies the wrong without confusion,” said Shashank Shekhar, who conducts the sessions for CRACR and PD. “For instance, good touch and bad touch can be taught through the principle of swimsuits. If anyone touches body parts that are covered by the swimsuit, it can be considered a bad touch,” he explained.

Ranjana Prasad, member of DCPCR, said that the rising cases of crimes against children, as reported by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), underscores the urgency to address the issue. “Educating children about their legal rights and responsibilities fosters a culture of prevention, breaking the cycle of vulnerability and contributing to the overall well-being
of society,” she said, adding, “legal literacy empowers children by informing them about their rights, avenues for redress, and the functioning of the child protection system.”

Crimes against children

According to the NCRB’s Crime in India 2022 report, 1.62 lakh cases of crime against children were registered, an increase of 8.7% over 2021. In percentage terms, of total crimes registered, 45.7% were of abduction and 39.7% were sexual offences, including rape of minors.

The data for 2022 also shows that 76,069 children were reported kidnapped during the year, of whom 62,099 were females.

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Storytelling, real-life examples

The rise in crimes against children can also be attributed to how subtle it can be for unsuspecting parents and children. This is why, encouraging children to be wary of and report occurrences that are out of the ordinary is also important for crime prevention, explained Shekhar.

“In Delhi-NCR region, many students go to school in cabs. We have heard of instances where a cab driver singled out a particular child to sit close to them. Favouritism, name calling and other unusual displays of affection must be identified and stopped right away. We inform students about these nuances as well,” he explained.

To help children grasp, Anand demonstrates the consequences of falling prey to predators through creating false scenarios. “Children can be very trusting. Once, we created a fake scenario in which a stranger asked a female student to go with them to meet her parents waiting outside the school. She did not suspect anything and went along. The rest of the class, however, pointed out that this was wrong. Enacting a scenario helps them remember the lessons for long,” she said.

DCPCR’s strategy involves engaging students by encouraging questions, quizzes, and interactive discussions to reinforce key concepts. The sessions are designed to be informative, participatory, and age-appropriate, ensuring that students not only understand the information but also feel empowered to apply it in real-life situations. Shekhar who is also a former member of the DCPCR said that the students are often unaware of the fact that they are in conflict with the law. The sessions have helped open their eyes.

“We found that several students were unaware that the activities they engage in or are in violation of law. For instance, the common understanding of stalking is following someone around, however, there are more ways of stalking. Emailing, constant messages on social media, messaging apps against the wishes of a girl is also a form of cybercrime, a form of stalking. We talked to school children about it and many boys admitted that they have done something similar and vowed to discontinue,” said Shekhar.

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Anand found similar cases in her school as well. Real-life examples of substance abuse and consequent health hazards helped her change students’ minds. “A few days ago, I took a session with Class 7 students focussing on addiction and smoking. I told them how it all begins with them trying to look cool or intimidating and eventually turns into an addiction which ruins their health. My storytelling struck a chord with several boys who admitted to have been pressured into smoking once or they regularly smoke because they look cool,” she said.

Way ahead

Although Anand’s efforts drew attention online, it failed to influence neighbouring schools. Anand plans to implement the training on a larger scale in Bihar schools. “I recently met the district magistrate of the area to discuss the implementation of a large-scale initiative where more students can become a part of it,” she said.

Meanwhile, DCPCR is also planning to expand the reach of its awareness workshops. “Future plans should include scaling up the initiative to reach a broader audience, extending the programme to more schools in Delhi and beyond. Continuous evaluation and feedback mechanisms should be implemented to refine and improve the programme, ensuring its effectiveness in addressing the evolving needs and challenges faced by children,” said Prasad.