Child Protection: The Need Of The Hour

We nurture our children to contribute their best to the society by empowering them to receive education from schools installed under the strict guidance of the state. But, unfortunately thriving in this kaleidoscopic society is not a simple feat. Child Abuse was and does still continue to be one of the most ghastly crimes designed and perpetuated by human beings. It is the biggest disgrace on our society that prides itself on the rule of law, democracy and the various freedoms provided to it in the Constitution.

According to the World Health Organisation, "Child maltreatment, sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, includes all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that results in actual or potential harm to the child's health, development or dignity. Within this broad definition, five subtypes can be distinguished –

1. Physical abuse
2. Sexual abuse
3. Neglect and negligent treatment
4. Emotional abuse; and
5. Exploitation"

According to an interview conducted by Reuters, they came across Suksham Aneja, whose son and daughter study at Delhi Public School in Noida. She said she was satisfied with the safety arrangements for her children in school, but worries about their safety sometimes. "My daughter returns late from her extra classes three days a week and is dropped off a little far from where we live. That little distance is ENOUGH to make me uncomfortable," Aneja said.

A study by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007 said that children in the 5-12 age bracket are most at risk of abuse and exploitation. It estimated that two out of every three children in India are physically abused. More than half of the children surveyed in the 13 sample states faced one or more forms of sexual abuse.

The Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and Delhi Rules, 2009 have listed out the following specific preventive provisions for prevention of abuse of children. Yet, according to a survey done by Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights in May, 2014, it was found that of the total crimes against children in India, Delhi accounts for 11.6% of crimes and 4.8% are of rape committed on children, a few in and near the school premises, during & after school hours.

Stalling figures, right?

Reuters further quotes Rule 60(1) Delhi Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Rules, 2009 - Abuse and exploitation of the juvenile or child, that states, "Every institution shall have systems of ensuring that there is no abuse, neglect and maltreatment and this shall include the staff being aware of what constitutes abuse, neglect and maltreatment as well as early indicators of abuse, neglect and maltreatment and how to respond to these."

With the help of technology a few relieving attempts have been made to end the woes of our children & their parents through strict monitoring of children by schools with the help of CCTV cameras, ID cards, electronic attendance roll registers and such likes but, the protection of children outside the school gates has still not been revolutionized and with this thought, has arisen a remarkable mobile application named- eSCHOOL TRAVEL.

The eSCHOOL TRAVEL mobile app is a unique and most promising product of JAVIN that has been designed considering the relationship shared between children, parents and school authorities. It aims to facilitate kids’ safety outside the school gates through GPS tracking and monitoring of school buses. Basically, this application links parents with their children riding on the school bus and, it also links the drivers of the school buses with the school management therefore, it is a wholesome, cost-effective and a simplistic school travel application that every responsible parent must use and advise other parents to use too.

We, here at Eschool travel, pledge to take the smart phone era to a new horizon through our mobile application- Eschool travel app that aims to end the jitters of all the mothers who get worrisome about their kids travelling to & from...