Greetings from Sikshana Foundation!

At Sikshana, we believe that each employee contributes directly to the growth and success of the organization, and we hope you will take pride in being a member of our team.

This Manual is designed to provide you with information about working conditions, employee benefits and other policies affecting your employment at Sikshana.

This Manual is designed to provide you with information about working conditions, employee benefits and other policies affecting your employment at Sikshana. This Manual is not a contract and is not intended to create any contractual or legal obligations. You should read, understand, and comply with all provisions of the Manual. It describes many of your responsibilities as an employee and outlines the programs developed by Sikshana to benefit you.
Since the policies should be current and relevant all the time, it will be necessary for us to modify and amend some sections of the policies and procedures, and add new policies from time to time as required.
Any suggestions, recommendations or feedback on the policies and procedures specified in this Manual are welcome. This should be provided by email addressed to hr@sikshana.org We hope that your stint with us will be challenging, enjoyable and rewarding.

Child Protection Policy

Objective:

A child protection policy provides guidelines for organizations and their staff to create safe environments for children. It is a tool that protects both children and staff by clearly defining what action is required in order to keep children safe, and ensuring a consistency of behavior so that all staff follow the same process. We at Sikshana foundation are committed to make our organization or a safe place to work.

This Child Protection Policy (CPP) is created in the context of the interventions that OBJECTIVE Sikshana Foundation delivers across the country. The interpretation of any alleged incident of violation of a child's right to protection, in so far as it contextually applies to Sikshana Foundation, and any recommendations of corrective and /or punitive actions, would be based on various relevant definitions provided in the organization’s policy on Redressal (subject to following the redressal process).

This CPP is framed in the broader context of the values and vision of the organization. It is to be read in conjunction with the policy on Sexual Harassment/ workplace harassment and the code of the organization

Scope:

This policy is applicable to all employees of Sikshana Foundation

Features:

As per The Constitution of India, State must make special provisions for children. Constitution asks the State to direct its policy towards securing (among other FEATURES things), that children are not abused; not forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength; and that they are given opportunities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity, protected against moral and material abandonment.

Code of Conduct::

The principle behind this code of conduct is that employees / volunteers / visitors should avoid actions or behavior which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behavior.

Employees/Volunteers/Visitors must never:

• Hit or otherwise physically assault or physically abuse children and develop physical / sexual relationships with children and develop relationships with children that could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive.
• Act in ways that may be abusive or may place a child at risk of abuse and use language, make suggestions or offer advice which is inappropriate, offensive or abusive.
• Behave physically in a manner which is inappropriate or sexually provocative and do things for children that is personal in nature that they can do for themselves.
• Condone (or participate in condoning) behavior of children which is illegal, unsafe or abusive and act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade children, or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse.
• Discriminate against, show differential treatment, or favor particular children to the exclusion of others and carry any separate snacks or refreshments for yourself during sessions unless advised by Sikshana Foundation.
• Take photographs/ videos of the children during the session without prior permission from guardian/ parent/ child and counsel children on a one on one basis unless you are authorized by Sikshana Foundation to do so.
• Conduct any games / sports activities with the children unless Sikshana Foundation authorizes you to do so and make promises you cannot keep.
• Share your phone numbers, email address or postal address to children and take personal numbers, address of the children. Your contact point with the children is Sikshana Foundation.
• Show inappropriate content, use foul language, inappropriate words, tease, ridicule, humiliate, bully, harass, or punish any children. Always report problems and issues to the Sikshana Foundation.
• Participate in physical or sexually provocative games, any form of inappropriate touching, use of inappropriate language, sexually suggestive comments even in fun, reducing a child to tears as a form of control, doing things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves.

Good practices:

• Be alert and support Sikshana Foundation to protect children from any physical, emotional or sexual injury or harm.
• Be a good role model – do not smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, consume paan / ghutka / misri in the presence of children.
• Respect the surroundings – littering, spitting, defacing plants and the physical environment in any way is against the Sikshana Foundation’s ethic.
• Be warm, friendly and caring towards children
• If you feel the need to conduct an unplanned activity with the group or a child such as administer first-aid or giving children gifts / treats, please keep Sikshana Foundation informed.
• Recognize the developmental needs and capacities of children. Avoid excessive training or competition and pushing them against their will.
• Adhere to the time schedules and wear clothing and shoes that are appropriate for the occasion.
• Treat all children equally with respect and dignity and be sensitive to the issues of children who are especially vulnerable in given contexts. For instance, girl children, children with disabilities, children from backward socioeconomic groups etc.
• Maintain a safe and appropriate distance with children and do not sleep in close proximity to children.
• Provide appropriate privacy to children when they are using the bathroom / toilets.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Sikshana is committed to providing equal opportunity in accordance with applicable local law and in all areas of people management, including recruitment, employment, assignment, transfer, promotion, compensation, benefits and training.

We prohibit discrimination, harassment, bias or prejudice in our workplace and against our workforce based on an individual’s race, color, national origin or ancestry, ethnic origin, citizenship status, creed, religion, religious affiliation, age, sex/gender, pregnancy, maternity, paternity, caring responsibilities, marital status, civil partnership, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability or protected condition, military or veteran status, an individual having been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, membership in the Traveler community or any other community group protected under applicable law, or any other status protected under applicable local law.

We do not tolerate discrimination, harassment or inappropriate or abusive conduct by or against employees, customers, suppliers, contractors or any other individuals who conduct business for/ with our Company.

Harassment or inappropriate conduct can occur between members of the same or opposite sex and is prohibited regardless of sex, gender identity or whether the individual submits to it or rejects it. It may be obvious or subtle and includes any unwelcome sexual advance, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or nonverbal behavior or physical contact of a potentially sexual nature or gender based stereotype that unreasonably interferes with work performance, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.

We are a secular organization and do not tolerate religious discrimination, harassment or intimidation and take all allegations seriously. It is each employee's responsibility to bring it to the notice of the leadership team of any conduct that is unlawful, abusive or otherwise violates our policies.

Social Media Policy

At all times, comply with the law, including but not limited to law concerning intellectual property rights, information technology, and basic tenets of civil and criminal law.