Himachal Police Launches 'School CONNECT' Initiative to Strengthen Child Safety and School Security
Himachal Police introduces the School CONNECT initiative to promote child safety, improve school security, raise cyber awareness, and strengthen coordination among schools, parents, and law enforcement.
Himachal Pradesh Police has launched the 'School CONNECT: School Safety and Student Protection Initiative' to improve child safety, school security, and coordination among police, schools, and parents.
As part of the initiative, DGP Himachal Ashok Tewari held a meeting with principals and representatives of 27 schools at Police Headquarters in Shimla on November 2, 2026.
Built on the existing Police- University Connect Programme, the initiative will structure police engagement with schools and have a special focus on preventive policing and protecting children from physical and digital threats.
DGP Ashok Tewari chairs a meeting with school principals and representatives during the School CONNECT initiative in Shimla. (Image Credit: The News Himachal)
Key Operational Measures for Safety
- CCTV surveillance at the entry and exit points, visitor verification, access control, staff background checks, and regular security assessments.
- Preventing kidnapping, sexual abuse, bullying, harassment, and exploitation, and increasing awareness about the POSCO Act.
- Educate students about cyberbullying, online grooming, sextortion, deepfakes, and other cyber threats.
- Measures to protect children from Chitta and other drugs and active participation in CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu’s Anti-Chitta Jan Andolan.
The initiative also focuses on school transport safety, verification of drivers and support staff, disaster preparedness, and evacuation drills. It highlights the importance of ERSS-112 awareness, appointing police nodal officers, forming school safety committees, and ensuring regular coordination between schools and local police.
Officials and school representatives attend the School CONNECT meeting at Police Headquarters in Shimla. (Image Credit: Amar Ujala)
DGP Tewari said that child safety is a shared responsibility and schools must ensure CCTV surveillance, proper supervision, staff verification, and timely information sharing. He emphasised that School CONNECT aims not only to respond to incidents but also to identify potential risks and prevent them through awareness, vigilance, and coordination.
He added that while University CONNECT focuses on students in higher education institutions, School CONNECT extends these safety measures to younger children, who are more vulnerable. The initiative reflects Himachal Police's commitment to making schools safer and ensuring a secure environment for every child.