The forum focused on the value-based excellence in education and knowledge on providing safe, stable, environments for children.

The school has always played a very vital part in developing the cognitive, emotional, intellectual development of a child. Being a second home, it creates the foundation of the young child’s character, habits, his relationships and overall outlook in life.

Yet a recent spate of incidents have sparked off a lot of  concern among guardians, parents and citizens alike as there has been a rise in incidents that threaten the faith of young learners.

Children often face corporal punishment, bullying from peers, and physical and sexual threats that often go unheard and unidentified leaving a deep impact on their tender minds.

The untold stress is likely to translate to behavioral outbursts or an increase of negative traits and patterns that can severely hamper their normal growth and development, ultimately affecting society at large.

The Chamber therefore invited field experts, child psychologists, pediatricians, school management heads , officer from the state Education Board of the government, police officers and general people to engage in a discussion to find  possible steps to identify problems, prevent mishaps and ensure safety for young learners and once again restore the tag of schools as a safe haven.

Key participants were Rajeev Kumar, IPS, Police Commissioner, Kolkata, Suman Sood (Territorial Head, Early Childhood Association), Dushyant Nariala (IAS Secretary, School Education, and Government of West Bengal), Dr. Asha Verma (ECA Secretary), Aprajita Rai (IPS), Dr. Swati Popat Vats (President of ECA & Poddar Education), Alokananda Roy (social activist) among others.