Following a recent case at a Kandivli preschool where a four-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a peon, the Early Childhood Association (ECA), a national non-profit organisation, has appealed to schools to put the well-being of the child and parents about concerns about prestige and public image. The ECA urged schools to provide support to the affected child and parents and adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In a set of recommendations for schools, the association has called for the government to establish a registry of POCSO-accused individuals.

The ECA also recommends mandatory workshops and training to school staff in POCSO law at every school. Swati Popat Vats, president of the ECA, India, told mid-day, “Ensuring the safety of children should not be a reactionary measure but an integral part of the ethos of every school. The government must enforce a standardised safety policy that is mandatory for all preschools, crèches, daycare centres and other institutions catering to children under the age of six.”