Acceptance of POCSO & PoSH frameworks needs collective responsibility

Sir,

This is in response to the page-1 report titled ‘How safe is your child at School?’ in SOM dated July 16.

As someone who has spent several years conducting awareness and sensitisation programmes on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act in schools, colleges and workplaces, I believe the biggest challenge today is not the absence of laws but the lack of acceptance of their purpose.

Resistance comes not only from institutions and employers but also from parents and society at large. Conversations on child safety, consent, personal boundaries and workplace harassment are often viewed with discomfort or suspicion instead of being recognised as essential preventive measures.

POCSO and PoSH are not merely compliance requirements or legal obligations. They are frameworks designed to foster safe, respectful and accountable environments. Their effectiveness depends on the active participation of parents, educators, employers and the community, not just Internal Committees or School Management.

Creating safe spaces for children and adults requires awareness, open dialogue and a willingness to embrace these laws in both letter and spirit. Collective responsibility, not compliance alone, is the foundation of prevention.

—Rtn. Padmaja Muralidhar, POCSO & PoSH Enabler

Mysuru

17.7.2026