Child Protection Policy

1. Purpose

Jinzai SoSkills Private Limited (“Jinzai”, “we”, “us”) works with young learners and students as well as adults. We are committed to keeping every child who takes part in our programmes safe from harm, including sexual abuse and exploitation.

This policy explains how we prevent harm, how we respond to concerns, and how we meet our duties under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (the “POCSO Act”) and other applicable Indian law.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• all employees, trainers, facilitators, volunteers, interns and consultants of Jinzai;
• every programme, workshop, session and event we run, in person or online;
• sessions held at schools, colleges, client premises or any other venue;
• any communication with a child, including email, messaging apps, video calls and social media.

A “child” means any person below the age of 18 years, as defined in the POCSO Act.

3. Our principles

• The safety and wellbeing of the child always comes first.
• Every child has an equal right to protection, whatever their gender, background, ability or circumstances.
• We take every concern seriously and act on it promptly.
• We share information only with those who need to know, and handle it confidentially.
• We work with parents, guardians, schools and the authorities to protect children.

4. Code of conduct for our team

Everyone covered by this policy must:

• treat children with respect and keep all interaction professional and appropriate to the learning activity;
• avoid being alone with a child in a closed or unobserved space; keep doors open or another adult present;
• use only official Jinzai or institution channels to communicate with children, and copy a parent, guardian or teacher where possible;
• never request, share or keep personal contact details, photos or videos of a child outside approved programme use;
• never use language, gestures, physical contact or material that is sexual, abusive, humiliating or discriminatory;
• never give gifts, favours or special attention that could be misunderstood;
• report any concern immediately, as set out in Section 7.

Breaking this code may lead to disciplinary action, termination of engagement and, where the law requires, reporting to the police.

5. Online sessions

• Sessions with children are run on approved platforms, with a parent, guardian or teacher informed and, where possible, present.
• Sessions are not recorded without prior written consent from a parent or guardian and, for institutional programmes, the institution.
• Trainers keep cameras in a neutral, professional setting and expect the same of participants.
• Private one-to-one messaging with a child outside the session is not allowed.

6. Safe recruitment and training

• Everyone who works with children is screened before engagement, including identity and reference checks and, where available, background or police verification.
• Every team member reads and signs this policy before working with children.
• Team members receive child-protection awareness training when they join, with regular refreshers.

7. Reporting a concern

If you see, hear or suspect that a child may be at risk of harm, or a child tells you something that worries you:

1. Make sure the child is safe. If there is immediate danger, call the police on 112.
2. Listen calmly. Do not question the child in detail, promise to keep a secret, or confront anyone involved.
3. Write down what you saw or were told, in the child’s own words, with the date and time, as soon as possible.
4. Report it the same day to Jinzai’s Child Protection Officer (details in Section 8).

Under Section 19 of the POCSO Act, anyone who has knowledge, or reason to believe, that an offence under the Act has been committed or is likely to be committed must report it to the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) or the local police. Failing to report is itself an offence under Section 21. Jinzai’s Child Protection Officer will make this report, and will support any team member who reports directly.

Anyone, including a child, parent or member of the public, can also seek help directly from the CHILDLINE helpline on 1098 or the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

8. Child Protection Officer

Jinzai has appointed a Child Protection Officer who is responsible for this policy, for receiving concerns and for reporting to the authorities.

If a concern involves the Child Protection Officer, report it directly to the Directors of Jinzai SoSkills Private Limited or to the police.

9. How we respond

• Concerns are recorded and acted on without delay.
• Where the law requires, we report to the SJPU or local police, and cooperate fully with any investigation.
• Any team member who is the subject of an allegation is removed from contact with children while the matter is looked into.
• We inform the child’s parent or guardian and, for institutional programmes, the institution, unless doing so would put the child at greater risk or the authorities advise otherwise.
• No one who raises a concern in good faith will face any negative consequences for doing so.

10. Confidentiality and records

Information about a concern is kept secure and shared only with people who need it to protect the child or as required by law. In line with the POCSO Act, we never disclose the identity of a child in any media or public communication.

11. Review

This policy is reviewed every year, and sooner if the law changes or an incident shows that it needs to be improved.