States » NorthPosted at: Nov 2 2026 6:35PM


Himachal Police launches School CONNECT initiative to strengthen child safety, school security

Shimla, Nov 2 (UNI)Himachal Pradesh Police has launched 'School CONNECT–School Safety and Student Protection Initiative' to strengthen child protection, campus security and coordination among police, educational institutions and parents.
The initiative, launched aims to promote preventive policing and safeguard children against emerging safety and security threats.
Director General of Police Ashok Tewari on Monday chaired an interactive meeting with principals and representatives of 27 schools at the Police Headquarters here to discuss the implementation of the initiative.
Tewari said the programme builds upon the successful Police-University CONNECT Programme and extends structured police engagement to schools, with a special focus on creating a safe environment for students.
The meeting discussed several aspects of school security, including CCTV surveillance at entry and exit points, visitor verification, access control, staff verification and regular security assessments.
Special emphasis was laid on preventing kidnapping, sexual abuse, bullying, harassment and exploitation of children.
Schools were also sensitised about provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the importance of timely reporting of incidents.
Recognising the growing challenges in the digital environment, the DGP stressed the need to protect students from cyberbullying, online grooming, sextortion, deepfakes and other cyber threats.
Schools were urged to promote digital awareness among students and ensure that potential threats were reported promptly.
The meeting also highlighted the need to protect children from chitta and other drugs, with a call for schools to actively participate in the Chief Minister-led Anti-Chitta Jan Andolan.
Other issues discussed included school transportation safety, verification of drivers and support staff, disaster preparedness, evacuation drills and awareness about the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112).
The importance of appointing designated police nodal officers, constituting school safety committees and maintaining regular interaction between schools and local police was also emphasised.
Tewari said child safety was a collective responsibility and that CCTV coverage, proper supervision, staff verification and timely information-sharing must become integral components of school management.
He said the objective of School CONNECT was not merely to respond to incidents after they occurred but to identify potential risks and prevent untoward incidents through awareness, vigilance and coordinated action.
While the University CONNECT Programme focuses on engagement with students in higher educational institutions, School CONNECT takes police outreach to an earlier and more vulnerable stage of childhood, reinforcing the commitment of Himachal Pradesh Police to ensuring safe schools and a secure environment for every child, he added.
UNI BN
Tags: #Himachal Police launches School CONNECT initiative to strengthen child safety# school security
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