Ahmedabad’s city district education office has directed all government, aided, unaided and board-affiliated schools to install a Samvedna Peti–Sarathi Helpline system so students can report safety concerns, seek help and submit suggestions without fear or hesitation.
The initiative is part of the Sarathi Suraksha Sankalp — Safe School, Safe Childhood project, which aims to create a secure, fear-free, healthy and sensitive learning environment for children. The education office said the system is intended to help schools identify student problems in time, provide guidance and develop a culture that gives priority to child safety.
Under the directive, students will be able to submit written complaints or requests for assistance through the Samvedna Peti. Providing a name will not be mandatory wherever possible, allowing students to raise concerns confidentially. Schools have been instructed to protect the confidentiality of submissions, maintain appropriate records and ensure timely resolution.
The concerns covered by the initiative include food safety, road safety, cyber safety, safety within school premises, bullying, harassment, discrimination and mental stress. The project also covers other challenges that may affect students and require intervention by school authorities.
Serious child-safety complaints will require immediate action under applicable law. The education office has specifically identified cases involving physical violence, sexual harassment and the risk of self-harm as matters requiring urgent response. The directive does not describe a separate new legal process, but requires schools to act according to the laws applicable to such cases.
Each school will also be required to form a five-member Sarathi Safety Club. The club will be headed by the principal and include one male teacher, one female teacher, one boy student representative and one girl student representative. Its responsibilities will include supporting a safe school environment and organising activities to improve awareness about safety.
Schools have been asked to conduct safety-awareness activities every month. These may include essay writing, drawing, public speaking, plays and mock drills. The activities are intended to make safety part of routine school life rather than limit the initiative to complaint collection.
The directive applies across school managements and boards in Ahmedabad, making the system broader than a programme confined to government institutions. Its effectiveness will depend on whether students trust the reporting mechanism, whether schools preserve confidentiality and whether complaints receive timely, documented responses.
More than 300 schools have already established the Sarathi Suraksha Sankalp initiative, according to the education office. The remaining schools covered by the directive are expected to set up the Samvedna Peti–Sarathi Helpline and constitute their safety clubs as part of the implementation process.
