Child Safety Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Sanatan Seva Sangh. In alignment with our foundational ideals of compassion, service (Seva), and righteous living (Dharma), we maintain an absolute commitment to child safety. Children are the future of our culture, values, and society, and their preservation in physical, mental, and emotional health is our highest priority.

This Child Safety Policy outlines the standards, codes of conduct, preventative protocols, and reporting frameworks that apply across all our programs—including Bal Sanskar classes, cultural festivals, spiritual retreats, and volunteer activities. Our aim is to foster a space where parents feel completely secure and children feel respected, valued, and safe.

1. Core Principles

We base our child protection actions and decisions on the following foundational tenets:

Best Interests of the Child

The safety, well-being, and health of the child will always guide our actions, events planning, and staffing.

Zero Tolerance for Abuse

We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards child physical, emotional, sexual abuse, exploitation, or systemic neglect.

Inclusive Safeguarding

Every child has an equal right to protection, regardless of their gender, caste, socioeconomic status, religion, or ability.

Continuous Oversight

Regular training, audits of facilities, and review of safety measures help maintain the highest standards of protection.

2. Code for Staff & Volunteers

All employees, acharyas, program coordinators, and volunteers are required to strictly adhere to this Code of Conduct:

Expected & Approved Behaviors:

Conduct all interactions in visible, open places where other adults are present.
Treat all children with equal respect, kindness, patience, and professional boundaries.
Promptly report any physical injuries, signs of distress, or verbal reports of abuse to the Safety Officer.
Provide positive, encouraging feedback during educational and cultural lessons.

Prohibited Actions:

Never spend time alone with a child behind closed doors or in private, unmonitored spaces.
Never use corporal punishment, harsh physical discipline, or verbally abusive language.
Never share personal contact info, phone numbers, or engage in private chats with children on social media platforms.
Never transport a child in a personal vehicle without written permission from a parent or guardian.

3. Parents & Guardians

We believe that child safety is a joint partnership. We seek parent/guardian collaboration in the following ways:

Written Consent: We obtain written or digital consent for children participating in out-of-station tours, seva projects, and photo/video releases for promotional brochures.
Pick-up and Drop-off: Parents must sign children in and out of classes, specifying authorized individuals allowed to collect the child.
Open Policy: Parents are welcome to visit classrooms, events, and volunteer sites at any time to observe their child's engagement.

4. Safe Environments

To maintain secure and protective surroundings, we implement the following structural controls:

Staff Screening: All volunteers and coordinators working directly with children must pass identity verification, reference checks, and background checks.
Supervision Ratios: We maintain strict adult-to-child ratios depending on the age group:
- Ages 4 to 8: Minimum of 1 adult helper per 8 children.
- Ages 9 to 14: Minimum of 1 adult helper per 12 children.
- At least two verified adults must be present in every classroom, regardless of size.
Digital Safeguards: Any online learning sessions or virtual classes are conducted on monitored corporate platforms. Link credentials are sent directly to parents, and recording is managed by official administrators only.

5. Reporting Mechanism

If you notice suspicious behavior, receive a disclosure of abuse from a child, or have concerns regarding child welfare, please act immediately.

POCSO Act Compliance (India)

Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, reporting any suspected child abuse is a legal obligation. We fully cooperate with state child welfare committees, local police authorities, and child protection services.

Steps for Reporting:

1

Report Details

Collect the date, name of the child (optional if requesting confidentiality), names of individuals involved, and a description of the incident.

2

Notify the Child Safety Officer

Submit the details using the contact info below or email our safety division directly.

3

Prompt Assessment & Referral

Our Safety Committee reviews the case within 24 hours and files reports to appropriate statutory bodies if any threat is identified.

6. Safety Contacts

For any queries regarding this policy, to report concerns, or to verify background check criteria, please contact our Safeguarding Committee:

Child Safety Officer

Safeguarding & Ethics Division | Sanatan Seva Sangh

sanatansevasanghtrust@gmail.com Helpline: 8588861100

* National Child Helpline: If you are in India and need immediate external help, you can also dial 1098 (toll-free government child helpline).

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