Chennai: After the death of a Coimbatore school student by suicide due to trauma faced by her due to sexual abuse, the Tamil Nadu government has come up with Tamil Nadu State Policy for Children 2021 to prevent and protect children from abuse and other sexual exploitations in urban and panchayat levels, on Saturday. As part of the policy, the state government has decided to conduct 'bala sabhas' similar to grama sabha meets for children, to form a committee to report sexual harassment under POSH Act among others.
After releasing the policy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the state will practice child protection policy in panchayats and urban bodies for children to report harassment and to create a safe space in the state.
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Under the policy, the government has decided to form a committee under POSH Act (The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013). The policy also aims to strengthen the already existing child protection systems, conduct awareness meets and implement safety measures in all institutions accessed by children.
The committee also insists on increasing the standard of pre-existing rehabilitation services and providing focus to mental health and psychological support for the children.
The policy also proposes to create bala sabhas in gram panchayats for children like grama sabhas where children can meet on a quarterly basis to pass resolutions and report issues.