Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Expert urges safe spaces for child abuse reporting from pre-primary level
A psychotherapist named Farishta Dastur Mukerji said that children should be taught from a very young age how to report if someone hurts them.
She explained that schools should teach parents how to listen and help when a child says they have been abused.
Many families find it hard to talk about abuse because it is still a taboo subject.
Schools are trying to help, but sometimes families get upset when schools get involved.
The expert said that everyone in society needs to work together to make sure children feel safe and know their rights.
It's important for families to support children who report abuse, so they don't feel alone.
Children should be educated about boundaries, consent, and reporting abuse from pre-primary level.
Parents need to be sensitized on how to respond when a child reports abuse to ensure the child feels heard and understood.
Reporting abuse is still culturally taboo, and parents need to understand the impact of violations on a child's mind.
Schools face challenges as some families view their involvement in abuse reporting as overstepping.
Society needs to focus on awareness, prevention, and creating safe spaces for reporting abuse.
- Who
- Farishta Dastur Mukerji, a psychotherapist and school counsellor
- What
- Advocating for safe spaces and education for children to report abuse from pre-primary level
- When
- During a session on the Pocso Act at a school principals' conclave last week
- Where
- At the annual conference of the Association of Heads of Anglo-Indian Schools in India
- Why
- To empower children and parents to recognize and report abuse, and to create a supportive environment for reporting
- Expert
- Farishta Dastur Mukerji, psychotherapist and school counsellor
- Event
- Annual conference of the Association of Heads of Anglo-Indian Schools in India
- Act
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act
- Panel Members
- Farishta Dastur Mukerji, Rachel Elias, Ian Myers, Kaushik Gupta
- Moderator
- Amrita Dasgupta, director of Swayam