The Delhi Government has formed a high-level committee to form anti-bullying and ragging policies for Delhi Schools. The Committee is also responsible for monitoring their implementation.
The Schools are also instructed to create awareness among people and students regarding the anti-bullying and ragging policies and circulate messages such as ‘bullying is strictly prohibited inside the premises and no such act will go unnoticed or unpunished’ – through school magazines and display the message at prominent places in the campus.
“In order to have an amiable and teaching-learning conducive environment in the schools, it is indispensable that they must be free from bullying and ragging. There must be a respectful relationship among students, school administration and families,” an official order by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said.
“A standing committee will be constituted at the headquarter-level comprising senior officers of the DoE to frame anti-bullying policy and monitor its implementation in the state at district-level and school-level,” it added.
The Committee will also be responsible for providing justice to students suffered from bullying and ragging and take appropriate actions against the respective students responsible for bullying and ragging. They will have to handle all complaints registered by the students and their parents.
“An anti-bullying helpline will be made operational on parallels of child helpline. It must operate confidentially, independently and remotely to help students in distress and also for reporting incidents of bullying. It can be a common toll-free phone number which can be operated centrally,” the order said.
Schools were also ordered to install a suggestion or complaint box in the premises and all suggestions and feedback should be monitored regularly. The Schools are instructed to teach human rights, democratic values, for diversity, equality, and respect for privacy and dignity of others to the students of the school.
“There must be proper sensitization of community also regarding bullying and ragging through school management committee meetings, parent-teacher meeting and parents representing in other committees of the school and their support is to be availed in bullying prevention efforts,” it added.