Punjab Education minister Dr. Daljit Cheema today inaugurated one day Seminar on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) organized by RMSA at Manav Mangal School, Mohali. In his inaugural speech Dr. Cheema said," Education Department would soon launch awareness Campaign in schools to educate students against sexual offences and they would also be educated about laws formulated against such crimes.
Referring to the incident happened in a Government school at Ludhiana, the Minister said that such offences were a blot on our society. He further said that POCSO was formed to protect children from sexual offences but lack of awareness among people was the cause behind such offences. pulging the details Dr. Cheema said that 280 education officers and teachers would be sensitized regarding offences against children and women.He further said that the officials trained here would conduct awareness sessions at their concerned districts schools thereafter. Minister added that education department is very much concerned about such offences and department further accelerate its efforts against it. He said that education institutions were as pious as religious places in our society so any incident of sexual offence in schools would not be tolerated. He instructed teachers that they should impart moral teachings in students along with school education.
Earlier, principal secretary of education department Mrs. Anjali Bhawara welcomed all the delegates and said that, "this seminar of department would be helpful in protecting children and women against sexual offences. In first session joint director of national institute of public corporation and children development Dr. tejinder kaur also threw light on the various aspects of POSCO which included information of compensation and pervasive law to curb all such incidents.
On this occasion minister also released a Charter which provided detailed information about beneficiary schemes of department and book titled 'career guidance and counseling' by author Preetinder kaur. DEOs of 22 districts, 110 Principals and 130 Teachers took part in this seminar.Prominent among others who were present on this occasion included Chairperson of School Education Board Mrs. Tejinder kaur Dhaliwal, DPI (Secondary Education) Mrs Darshan Kaur , Director SCERT Mrs. Pankaj Sharma, Additional Director Mr. Bhagwant Singh, Director Manav Mangal Smart School Sanjay Sardana, Principal Neena Peter , DEO (Secondary Education) Mr. Meva Singh Sandhu and DEO Mr Gurjeet Singh.