Bhopal Archdiocese Trains School, College PROs in Child Protection and Cyber Safety

Bhopal, October 10, 2026: The Archdiocese of Bhopal organised a training programme for public relations officers (PROs) of Catholic educational institutions on October 10, focusing on child protection, POCSO compliance and cyber safety.

Held at Seva Sadan, Tulsi Nagar, under the theme “Protecting Childhood, Securing the Digital Future,” the four-hour programme aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to promote safe campuses, protect children’s privacy and handle sensitive issues responsibly.

In his keynote address, Archbishop Durairaj described child protection as a shared responsibility and a moral commitment of every educational institution. He commended the Archdiocesan Public Relations Office for organising the initiative and urged PROs to uphold confidentiality, promote digital awareness and ensure responsible communication.

The sessions covered child protection and awareness of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, cyber safety and digital ethics, responsible communication, inclusive campus environments, and crisis communication and reputation management.

Participants discussed procedures for responding to child protection concerns, handling sensitive cases, preserving evidence and complying with legal requirements. The training also highlighted the need to safeguard children’s identities and avoid communication that could compromise their privacy or the integrity of investigations.

The programme underlined the role of PROs in building trust among educational institutions, parents, students and the wider community. It also stressed that ethical media practices and effective crisis communication are essential to addressing sensitive incidents while maintaining institutional accountability.

Fr. Alfred D’Souza, Archdiocesan PRO and director of Navdeep Communications (NAVCOM),