Bhubaneswar(OT Webdesk): In a decisive step towards strengthening safety protocols in educational institutions, the Odisha School and Mass Education Department has issued comprehensive directives targeting both student and staff welfare.
The circular, signed by Commissioner-cum-Secretary Shalini Pandit (IAS), mandates all eligible schools to implement or reconstitute Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in accordance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Further, the directive encourages schools to embed the BARNALI Gender Equity Programme into their curriculum and co-curricular activities to promote gender sensitivity among students.
To bolster access to emergency support, schools are required to visibly display key helpline numbers, including:
- Women Helpline: 181
- Child Helpline: 1098
- Police Emergency Response: 112
- School Student Helpline: 1800-345-6722 The department has instructed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and District Project Coordinators (DPCs) to ensure timely implementation and monitoring across Odisha’s schools.
- This move reaffirms the state’s commitment to fostering secure, inclusive learning environments.
