Child Protection Policy

Grievance / Child Protection (POCSO) Committee

Chairpersons

• Mrs. Sara Jacob – Senior Vice President & Advocate

• Mrs. Deepa Suresh – Headmistress

Members

• Dr. Muzeena Ahmed Shaikh – Head HR & POCSO Certified Child Safety Trainer

• Ms. Gargi Gupta – HOD, Physics Department

• Mr. Maria Moyesan – Counsellor, Higher Secondary Section

1. Context

Every child has the fundamental right to protection from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by India in 1992.

At Good Shepherd International School (“GSIS”), all staff and adults entrusted with the care, supervision, or education of children share a collective responsibility to safeguard their safety, dignity, and well-being. This includes recognising behavioural changes, signs of distress, or disclosures of abuse, and being fully conversant with this Child Protection Policy and the principles of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

2. Key Learning Points from the POCSO Act, 2012

2.1 Trauma Bonding

Children may form emotional or psychological attachments to an abuser due to fear, manipulation, authority, or dependency. Indicators may include defending the abuser, self-blame, guilt, confusion, or difficulty disclosing abuse.

Important clarifications:

• Absence of resistance does not imply consent
  
• Emotional attachment must never be misinterpreted as acceptance
  

2.2 A Child’s “No” Is a No

• Children cannot legally give consent
  
• Silence, compliance, familiarity, or fear does not imply permission
  
• Any sexual act involving a child constitutes an offence under POCSO
  

2.3 Age-Proximate Adolescent Relationships

While courts may consider age proximity during legal proceedings, POCSO applies fully if any individual involved is below 18 years of age.

Staff must not independently interpret, assess, or apply legal exceptions and must report concerns through prescribed school channels.

2.4 Perpetrators Are Often Known

Abuse is frequently perpetrated by individuals known to the child, including relatives, caregivers, peers, or authority figures. This underscores the importance of professional boundaries, vigilance, and GSIS’s zero-tolerance approach.

2.5 No Closed-Door Interactions

All staff–student interactions must be:

• Visible
  
• Transparent
  
• Accountable
  

Where privacy is required for legitimate reasons, doors must remain open or interactions must occur in observable spaces.

2.6 Mandatory Internal Reporting Responsibility

Under the POCSO framework, any knowledge, suspicion, observation, or disclosure of abuse must be reported immediately.

At GSIS:

• Staff must not investigate independently
  
• All concerns must be reported without delay to the GSIS Child Protection (POCSO) Committee.
  
• Staff responsibilities are fulfilled upon timely and accurate internal reporting in accordance with this Policy
  
• Failure to report internally constitutes serious misconduct and may attract disciplinary action

Please note: For the purposes of this Policy, ‘without delay’ and ‘immediately’ mean as soon as the staff member becomes aware of, witnesses, suspects, or receives a disclosure of an incident, and not after verification, consultation, or the passage of time.”

2.7 Physical Boundaries and Child Affection

• Staff must not initiate, encourage, or prolong physical contact with students
  
• If a child initiates contact, staff must respond calmly, professionally, and without reciprocation
  
• Exclusivity with individual students must be avoided; concerns should be redirected to appropriate support channels
  

2.8 Photography and Digital Conduct

• Personal photography or videography of students is prohibited
  
• Official photographs must follow school policy, consent protocols, and authorised use
  
• Staff must not store student images on personal devices or share them on personal platforms
  
• All official school photographs are the property of GSIS
  

2.9 Matters Not Covered Under POCSO

Certain forms of harm — including physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, child labour, or offences involving adults — may fall under other legal frameworks such as the Juvenile Justice Act, IPC/BNS, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, or POSH Act.

These concerns must still be reported through GSIS’s internal safeguarding channels and addressed in accordance with applicable laws and school policy.

2.10 Final Reminders

• POCSO is rooted in prevention, protection, and accountability
  
• GSIS examines all concerns sensitively, fairly, and without bias
  
• Dignity and due process are upheld for all parties
  
• Child protection is a shared institutional responsibility
  

3. Child Protection Policy – Rationale and Guidelines

3.1 Responsibility

All staff are responsible for safeguarding children from harm and for observing behavioural changes or signs of distress.

3.2 Residential Environment

GSIS is a fully residential school, where students have limited access to parents and the outside community during term time. This necessitates heightened vigilance, professionalism, and responsibility from all staff.

3.3 Confidentiality

Staff must clearly explain to students that disclosures cannot be kept confidential and must be shared with designated authorities within the School to ensure safety and support.

3.4 Awareness of Home Environment

Staff must remain mindful that abuse may occur during holidays or off-campus periods and may impact a child’s emotional and behavioural well-being upon return.

4. Scope

This Policy applies to:

• All GSIS staff (academic, co-curricular, boarding, administrative)
  
• Students
  
• Parents, guardians, visitors, volunteers, and service providers
  

It covers all GSIS campuses and sections, including Primary, Middle, High, and Higher Secondary (Palada).

5. Legal and Policy Framework

This Policy is informed by:

• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
  
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
  
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
  
• Guidelines on Bullying and Ragging (2016)
  

Overall oversight and accountability rest with the Chairpersons of the GSIS Child Protection Committee.

6. Leadership Team – Roles and Responsibilities

The GSIS Child Protection Committee shall:

• Develop, review, and update safeguarding policies
  
• Maintain strict confidentiality
  
• Conduct annual compliance reviews
  
• Ensure safe recruitment and background verification
  
• Schedule mandatory staff training
  
• Liaise with medical, counselling, and legal professionals as required
  
• Receive, examine, and manage reports of concern
  
• Ensure fairness, due process, and staff compliance
  

7. Training

All staff shall undergo mandatory annual training on:

• Child safeguarding
  
• Abuse recognition and prevention
  
• Professional boundaries
  
• Reporting procedures
  

8. Defining Child Abuse

Abuse may be:

• Physical
  
• Sexual
  
• Emotional
  
• Neglect
  

Ragging and bullying may involve one or more of the above forms.

9. Identifying Abuse

All staff must remain vigilant. Boarding staff, in particular, must actively safeguard students against bullying, ragging, or peer harm. Any concern must be reported immediately through prescribed channels.

10. Staff Responsibilities

Staff must:

• Listen calmly and supportively
  
• Report concerns promptly without investigation
  
• Refrain from physical punishment, humiliation, or inappropriate relationships
  
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times
  
• Respect due process in all allegations
  

11. Reporting Mechanism

• All safeguarding concerns must be reported immediately to the GSIS Child Protection (POCSO) Committee through official channels
  
• The Committee shall assess and manage each case in accordance with this Policy and applicable legal requirements
  
• Retaliation against any individual reporting concerns in good faith is strictly prohibited
  
• Knowingly false or malicious allegations, if established, will be addressed through appropriate disciplinary processes
  

12. Review and Consistency

This Policy must be read in conjunction with:

• Student and Parent Directives
  
• Staff Directives
  
• Internet Usage Policy
  
• Health and Safety Policy
  

GSIS is committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and respectful environment where every child is protected, heard, and valued. Child protection is a shared responsibility that demands vigilance, compassion, professionalism, and integrity from every member of the School community.

Together, we uphold the dignity, safety, and well-being of every child entrusted to our care.

Confidentiality

• This policy is a confidential document of GSIS.
• No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronically or mechanically, without prior written permission from School Management.
• Unauthorized reproduction or transmission may lead to civil or criminal liability.

Amendments

The School reserves the right to modify, amend, or alter this policy, wholly or partially, at any time as deemed appropriate.