CWC’s guidelines: The much needed elixir
Few days back a minor kid was asked to air his views on announcement of summer vacations owing to rising temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir. The minor kid out of his innocence poured out what may be described as ‘politically incorrect’. But at the same time another burning question that needed immediate answer is how was a minor kid was forced in front of a camera and how his views were put out without following any guidelines.
Importantly, in developing regions like Kashmir, schools are more than classrooms. They are often the only spaces where children find routine, mentorship, and a sense of normalcy amid uncertainty. However, what has brought into focus is the need to protect the minor kids outside schools as well.
That is precisely why the Child Welfare Committee Srinagar’s new circular on child safety and protection is both timely and necessary. The CWC, functioning as a Bench under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, has directed all government and private schools to institutionalize safeguarding mechanisms. From mandatory POCSO and JJ Act training for staff and transport personnel, to CCTV in school vehicles, anti-bullying cells, and prominent display of Child Helpline 1098, the guidelines address gaps that have long existed in how we protect children.
Children not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but elsewhere navigate challenges previous generations did not: easy internet access, peer pressure, prolonged school closures, and the psychological impact of violence.
In such an environment, risks of bullying, cyber abuse, emotional neglect, and exploitation increase. The CWC’s push for regular awareness on good touch-bad touch, online safety, and conflict resolution acknowledges that abuse is no longer only a home or street problem. It can enter classrooms, WhatsApp groups, and even school buses.
Without trained adults, these issues go unreported. Mandatory training for all staff, including drivers and support personnel, ensures that the first adult a child sees is also the first line of defense.
In Kashmir, many children travel long distances across hilly terrain. Overcrowded vans, poorly maintained vehicles, and lack of supervision have led to accidents and unsafe situations. The CWC’s directive on seating capacity and functional CCTV in passenger compartments is not bureaucratic. It creates accountability. When recordings are preserved and can be produced before authorities, drivers, attendants, and schools know that safety is being watched. For working parents, that assurance is critical.3.
Ironically, most child protection systems in India activate only after harm is done. The CWC guidelines shift focus to prevention: School Safety Committees, regular counsellor engagement, value-based education on empathy and gender sensitivity, and confidential complaint boxes.
These are low-cost, high-impact tools. In a region where mental health services are still scarce, having counsellors address stress, anxiety, and peer conflict inside schools can prevent larger crises later.5
Kashmir’s future depends on how safely we raise this generation. When a child feels safe in a bus, respected in class, and heard in a complaint room, learning actually begins. The CWC circular recognizes that reality. In a developing region where resilience is already tested daily, child protection cannot be optional. It must be the foundation.
