One issue that is bothering me the most these days are the recent cases related to child abuse and harassment that have come to light. I believe that all schools should make special efforts to sensitise adolescents about the same.

Under the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee, all government and private schools are required to have a sexual harassment committee but there are many schools who are not complying with the same. I believe that it is a very sensitive issue and needs immediate attention. All schools should have a complaint box in place and students must be encouraged to submit complaints if they have any.

Schools should also organise awareness programmes for both students as well as their parents. Students need to be told that if any incident related to sexual harassment occurs, then it needs to be brought out in the open. Students need to be counselled so that they do not hesitate in bringing up such issues with the seniors. Also it is not only in the schools that cases related to child abuse can take place rather such issues can also come up at home where relatives might be involved. Thus, there is a need to educate the parents as well so that students do not hesitate in discussing the issue with them.

During counselling sessions with students, I have often noticed that most of the students are not even aware that someone has taken undue advantage of their innocence.

Schools can do a lot in motivating the students to fight all odds and have a major role in making the students mentally strong. Schools should also keep in mind that both boys and girls should be counselled since both of them may be affected by such issues.