By Kshitij Barvey
While the draft Child Policy covers many important issues, it misses a key point: protecting children’s innocence from harmful content. Focusing on gender sensitivity and LGBTQIA+ topics, like “gender non-conforming,” and giving teens more control over their bodies can be confusing for young kids. These complex ideas aren’t suitable for their age. Expanding the Right to Education (RTE) and adding these topics to the curriculum can overwhelm young minds with concepts they’re not ready to understand. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes a well-rounded education rooted in Indian culture and values. Any new content should support this and not disrupt children’s natural development. In short, while it’s important to address child welfare, we must ensure kids aren’t exposed to inappropriate content too soon, preserving their innocence and helping them learn at the right pace.