On 19-21 March, under the aegis of the Darjeeling Region Child Rights Network (DRCRN), school teachers of congregational schools in Darjeeling and civil society organisations came together to learn and share on child rights and protection. The objective of the training was to enable teachers to understand and create a child-friendly atmosphere in the schools.

The 3-day training workshop built on a participatory approach, amalgamating case interventions and legal experiences of Anugyalaya while dwelling on varied topics under child rights. The topics entailed child-related laws and policies in India, and protection from different forms of abuses and harmful situations, including natural calamities. This stirred the curiosity of the teachers, resulting in a plethora of clarifications sought by the teachers.

The sessions addressed topics of corporal punishments; safe use of technology vis-à-vis social media by children; child safe public transport; early awareness on good touch and bad touch at the primary school level, and related issues to older children from grade eight onwards. Whilst the sessions focused on broader child protection issues, the issue of different forms of abuse, including mental, emotional, and social abuses were dealt with in detail. This was accorded a higher priority due to a significant prevalence of child abuse cases in the region, intervened by Anugyalaya in a child rights programme of Caritas India.

Sr. Sharon Subba, Principal of St. Joseph Convent Kalimpong talked about child-friendly environment and safety at home, realising that violence and conflicts at home affect children’s mental and psychological wellbeing. In the specific context of the schools, the emphasis was laid on respectfully addressing the child, avoiding using surnames or nicknames; and preventing and responding to cases of child bullying. Mr. Amos Tshering Lepcha of World Vision Siliguri also underscored the importance of inculcating a sense of responsibility along with rights awareness among children.

Mr Phurba Sherpa, from the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) made the participants aware about the role and functions of DCPU, which included overseeing child protection activities, coordinating with voluntary organisations, inter-departmental coordination, monitoring institutions/agencies providing residential facilities to children in district; ensuring functioning of child protection committees at all levels and so on.

Founded by Caritas India in 2014, the DRCRN with her partners Bal Suraksha Abhiyan (BSA) and Anugyalaya Diocesan Social Service Society, is now a network of various civil society organisations and the Childline. The DRCRN aims at strengthening civil society response to child rights violations and advocating the concerns of children of the hills of North Bengal. The DRCRN is also first of its kind CSO network working on child rights in the hilly region.