Media Release

Mangaluru, Jul 30: An awareness programme was organized at Lourdes Central School for students of classes VI and VII to educate them about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Class VI- 181 and class VII- 163 students were present.

The main purpose of the session was to create awareness among children about their rights, safety, and the importance of speaking up in unsafe situations.

The programme began with a prayer song followed by the welcome speech by the students of class VI & VII. The teacher introduced and the dignitaries felicitated the resource person, Sarik Ankita, HoD, Criminology, Roshni Nilaya. The principal, Fr Johnson Sequeira, in his key note address, stressed on the importance of awareness and the need to stay protected.

The session was continued by the guest speaker Sarik Ankita through simple explanations, real- examples, and an interactive talk, students were made aware of safe and unsafe touches, how to report abuse, and the legal protections under the POCSO Act.

The resource expert emphasized the importance of children knowing their rights. She encouraged the students to be brave, speak up if they feel uncomfortable, and always trust their parents or teachers in case of any issues.

The session was very informative and helped students understand their personal boundaries, the value of safety, and how to seek help if needed. It also gave them the confidence to communicate openly and responsibly.