GAUTAM GAMBHIR FOUNDATION

Gautam Gambhir Foundation is committed to protecting the safety and well- being of children. Thus, Gautam Gambhir Foundation has adopted this Child Protection Policy requiring organization representatives to conduct themselves appropriately with the children who participate in Gautam Gambhir Foundation related programs and take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of such children.
The Foundation strives to rescue children facing abuse, neglect, exploitation, physical harm, danger and violence. The Foundation executes programs in various parts of India to provide happy and safe childhood for all children.

I. The Legal Grid
The Constitution of India recognize children as equal right holder and grants highest priority for their protection and well-being.
India is signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
The legal grid to protect children include
 The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015;
 The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012;
 Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act 1994;
 The Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005;
 The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009;
 Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006; and
 Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.

II. Vision of the Foundation
All children adopted / supported by the Foundation shall stay safe and feel secure in the settings and circumstances offered by the Foundation.

III. Guidelines adopted by the Foundation for The Child Protection Policy.
1. All employees/ contractual workers of the Foundation must sign the declaration for child protection and agree to abide by it (draft declaration at Annexure 1) (hereinafter “Draft Declaration”).
2. The Draft Declaration is based on the premise of Zero tolerance of child abuse and exploitation.
3. The employees / contractual workers of the Foundation should always treat children with empathy and respect, regardless of race, color, gender, sexuality, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
4. The employees / contractual workers of the Foundation should always listen to children and respect their views.
5. The employees / contractual workers of the Foundation must never:

 Use language or behaviour towards children that is inappropriate, harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning or culturally inappropriate;
 Develop or induce or support in any way physical / sexual relationships with children.
 Develop any form of relationship or arrangement with children which could in any way be deemed to be exploitative or abusive.
 Place a child at risk of abuse or exploitation, or be aware of these and not report it or not do anything about it.

6. The Foundation has designated / shall continue to designate responsibility to employees / contract workers / members staff for ensuring that procedures and arrangements are in place within the Foundation to protect children and report any abuse, exploitation or neglect; in line with the guidelines and existing laws.

7. The CHILDLINE 1098 and contact details of designated officer for child protection shall be displayed prominently at various places in the office / premises of the Foundation.

8. The Foundation organises and makes it mandatory for all employees at all levels (including contractual workers) to attend orientation programmes on child protection and various legislations related to it.

9. The Foundation ensures that any individual in the Foundation who abuses or exploits children or violates any section of this policy is appropriately punished as per law (Refer to Annexure 2).

10. If any individual associated with the Foundation, is in knowledge of any abuse, be it physical, sexual or emotional abuse including online abuse of children, circulation of child sexual abuse materials, child marriage, child labour, child trafficking, maltreatment of children, discrimination against child on the account of gender, caste, religion, language, disability or any other; abandonment or neglect of a child is obligated to report the incidence to CHILDLINE 1098, police or Child Welfare Committee (hereinafter “Informant”). Identity of the informant is protected and shall not be made public.

11. In cases of emergency, where a child appears to be at immediate and serious risk, the employees (contractual or otherwise) of the Foundation shall provide accurate information about child’s location, details of the circumstances and other information to help in the
process of rescue.

12. In case the child requires immediate medical attention before appropriate authorities arrive, the employees (contractual or otherwise) of the Foundation shall assist / help the child in the best possible manner and update CHILDLINE 1098 and police regarding the situation and whereabouts of the child.

13. The employees (contractual or otherwise) of the Foundation, shall always wait for the appropriate authority (CHILDLINE 1098, police or Child Welfare Committee members) for taking action or act on their advice and guidance.

14. The professionals engaged by the Foundation who offer / provide services to children (teachers, counsellors, doctors/ other health workers and others) must follow child protection policy for reporting and taking action about a child’s safety and welfare.

15. The employees (contractual or otherwise) of the Foundation must be aware of the care and support services for children like CHILDLINE 1098, Special Juvenile Police Unit, Child Welfare Committees, child care institutions, one-stop centres, drug rehabilitation centres, hospital, mental health care providers and other such services for children. 

16. Foundation shall establish and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that business / industry and corporate entities are not using child labour in any form.

17. Foundation shall ensure that stringent background check (including police verification) is duly conducted of all employees – regular or contractual; volunteers and others who may come in contact with children under the aegis of Foundation.

18. The Foundation shall train all employees (contractual or otherwise) on child rights, provisions of POCSO Act, 2012; JJ Act 2015 and other legislations for children and ensure that corporal punishment, bullying and any other form of abuse is prevented.

19. All employees (contractual or otherwise) of the Foundation should be familiar with signs and behaviours that may be indicative of child
abuse / exploitation or neglect.

20. Foundation shall ensure that medical establishments (hospital and clinics), doctors and health workers cannot refuse treatment or discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, disability, caste, religion, tribe, language, marital status, occupation, political belief, or other status. Refusal of medical care to survivors/victims of sexual violence and acid attack amounts to an offence under Section
166B of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 357C of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

21. The Foundation shall/has develop/ developed age-appropriate modules and materials for orientating children on child abuse, online safety and  services available for them.

22. The Foundation may undertake research and collect data on children, directly from children or indirectly from parents/community shall
ensure that children are not harmed or traumatized in any way during the process. All research staff engaged by the Foundation shall be trained on ethical practices and child friendly procedures. Further the data collected, as mentioned in foregoing lines,

23. The Foundation shall maintain crèches/ mobile crèches for employee’s children including those on daily wages / contractual basis if the
number of employees is fifty or above; otherwise appropriate space and facility for baby care to be provided for mothers with infants.

24. Foundation shall develop and maintain child friendly zones in all places for public dealing and also develop and maintain safe spaces for mothers to keep their infants.

Annexure 1:
Declaration by all employees I _________________________________from Gautam Gambhir Foundation hereby declare that:
i. I will always respect all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity;
ii. ii. Support their right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
iii. I will not employ any child as defined under Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
iv. I will always report any case of child abuse, exploitation and neglect which comes to my knowledge to appropriate authority and will not harm or abuse any child physically, emotionally or sexually.
(Name of the employee)

Annexure 2:
The following offences/behaviours are punishable by law and it is the duty of every adult citizen to abide by these laws:
 Offences/Behaviours Laws Sexual assault, sexual harassment, use of child for pornographic purpose Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 Production, dissemination and use of child sexual abuse materials.
 The Information Technology Act, 2000 Disclosing identity of the child victim to anyone other than appropriate authority Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012, JJ Act 2015 Sale and procurement of children for any purpose including illegal adoption, trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, use of children by militant groups, giving children intoxicating liquor, narcotic drug or tobacco products or psychotropic substances, offences against disabled children, trafficking of children for sexual exploitation/exploitative labour/other reasons and, kidnapping JJ Act 2015;
 Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956; Human trafficking (section 370 & 370A IPC), after creation of specific section in IPC by the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013 Corporal punishment in child care institutions JJ Act, 2015 Corporal Punishment in schools Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 Adopting a child without due procedure through CARINGS and child welfare committees/ promoting or facilitating such illegal adoption JJ Act, 2015 Employment of children below 14 years in any occupation or industry Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 Employment of children 15-18 years in hazardous occupation or industries Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 Marrying a child/ promoting or solemnizing child marriage Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 Pre-natal diagnostic techniques for Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques determination of the sex of the fetus leading to female feticide (PCPNDT) Act 199

Seema Gambhir                                                                   Gautam Gambhir                                                                       Natasha Gambhir
(Managing Trustee)                                                           (Managing Trustee)                                                                   (Managing Trustee)