Section 21 in Himachal Pradesh Early Childhood Care and Education Centres (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2017
21. Safety and security of children.
(1)The Head of Centre shall ensure safety and security of children and shall appoint preferably the female staff, to the extent possible.(2)The Head of Centre shall ensure that no child is abused or exploited by any person, staff member or outsiders within the premises of the Centre or in any area or facility related to it.(3)The Head of Centre shall ensure that no child in a Centre is subjected to any physical punishment or mental harassment.(4)The Head of Centre shall ensure that staff of Centre is appointed after proper Medical Examination and Police verification.(5)The Head of Centre shall ensure that all facilities provided in the Centre are child friendly and conducive for children, including Children With Special Needs (CWSNs).(6)The Head of Centre shall ensure that there are no harmful devices, sharp edged furniture or anything harmful or dangerous within the reach of children in the Centre and in the facilities related to it.(7)The Head of Centre shall display the telephone number of CHILD HELPLINE (1098) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 at prominent places in the premises of the Centre and shall also orient the parents and staff about it.(8)The Head of Centre shall ensure that no child is subjected to any kind of discrimination on grounds of caste, creed, race, sex, religion, mental or physical shortcomings or on socioeconomic status of the family.(9)The Head of Centre, in addition to above, shall adhere to all directions and notifications, if any, issued by the Government in this regard from time to time.(10)In case, any violation of the above provisions or any untoward incident occurs in the Centre or in any facility related to the Centre, the Head of Centre and the Head of Institution shall also be held responsible, in addition to the perpetrator of the crime or untoward incident. The Head of Centre and the Head of Institution shall also be liable for action under the concerned sections of various Acts in place for dealing with acts of negligence and offences committed against children :Provided that in case of any offence committed under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, the Director shall suspend the registration of the Centre immediately.
