Now, Jharkhand govt school students can file plaints anonymously on campus

RANCHI: The Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) will install boxes at all the government schools across the state for the students to lodge complaints, if any, related to any problem, including social and personal problems, without sharing their identity.
The School Health and Welfare Programme initiative is being taken by the JEPC in collaboration with the Center For Catalysing Change, a non-profit organisation working in the field of women and girls empowerment, to help the students solve their problems.
The schools have been directed to place the complaint box where all kids can easily reach it.
Talking to TOI, JEPC director Kiran Pasi said, “Any government and residential school students, who have a school-related, medical or other problem, can anonymously file a complaint in the box provided. On the initiative of the school, the specialists will solve the pupils’ difficulties. In order to assist the students, we will soon release a helpline number.”
Under the School Health and Wellness Programme, teachers trained as Arogya Doots and students trained as Wellness Messengers will promote and inform the children about the box through a school-based campaign.
The box will be opened on every second Saturday of the month. It can only be opened by an Arogya Doot and the respective school principal. Following the review of the complaints, a list of similar issues being faced by the students will be compiled and efforts will be made to resolve them.
Om Prakash Singh, the state head of the Center for Catalysing Change, said, “The Arogya Doots and the Wellness Messengers would encourage pupils to place their daily concerns in the boxes during prayer gatherings. It would especially benefit the girl students. Whether it is a medical issue or a social one, individuals can write their concerns in the box. “
“The police administration, doctors, psychiatrists, school management committee, and other stakeholders will collaborate to solve the difficulties of children. On the basis of the kind of complaints received in the box, subject-matter experts will be enlisted for assistance. If necessary, pupils can also get counselling. This initiative would boost kids’ trust and confidence in their teachers. Hence, the measure will reduce school dropouts,” he added.