‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’ Conclave Focuses on Early Identification, Psychological Safety and Supportive School Environments
Kolkata, September 1, 2026: Bullying does not always appear as a fight or an obvious act of intimidation. Sometimes, it is reflected in a child’s silence, withdrawal, reluctance to attend school or a gradual loss of confidence. Bringing attention to these less visible signs, Annantaa, in association with the Early Childhood Association (ECA), hosted the ‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’ anti-bullying conclave in Kolkata, bringing together leading educators and mental-wellness professionals to discuss ways to recognise, prevent and respond to bullying in schools.
The conclave witnessed strong participation from Kolkata’s education community, with Mrs. Rupkatha Sarkar, Principal, La Martiniere for Girls School; Jessica Gomes Surana, Principal, Birla High School, Mukundapur; Dr. Jayeeta Ganguly, Principal, SPK Jain Futuristic Academy; Satabdi Bhattacharjee, Principal, The Newtown School; Ms. Joyeeta Majumder, Principal, DPS Barasat; Ms. Sangeeta Tandon, Principal, The Shri Shikshayatan School; and Rituparna Kolay, Principal & Owner, EuroKids Preschool Ballygunge, Cocoon Daycare & Activity Centre, Ballygunge.
The conclave also featured Dr. Suman Sood, Director & Principal, B. D. Memorial Jr.; Advisor, IVWS & B.D.M.I.; and National Core Committee Member, ECA, adding an important educational perspective to the discussion on children’s mental and emotional well-being.
From Awareness to Action
The central panel discussion, “From Awareness to Action: How Schools Can Recognise, Respond to and Prevent Bullying,” explored how schools can move beyond awareness campaigns and adopt meaningful systems for prevention and intervention.
The discussion highlighted the importance of early identification, sensitive intervention, clear reporting mechanisms and trusted relationships between students and educators. Speakers also emphasised the need to help children develop empathy, respect and healthy ways of managing differences from an early age, so that teasing, exclusion and conflicts can be addressed before they escalate.
The conclave reflected Annantaa’s broader focus on mental and emotional wellness, with particular emphasis on early intervention and emotionally supportive environments.
Kolkata Data Highlights Growing Concern
The need for stronger anti-bullying mechanisms is particularly relevant in the local context. A study involving 254 students from two higher-secondary schools in Kolkata found that 10.5% of social-networking users had experienced cyberbullying. Among those affected, 72.7% had no clear response to the experience, while 68.2% turned to friends for help, highlighting the possibility of underreporting.
Another study among adolescents in Kolkata found that 18.6% had experienced bullying or teasing as a form of psychological violence.
More recently, an NCERT assessment of schools in West Bengal found that 30% of students reported being teased by classmates, 23% reported being excluded from group activities and 19% said they did not feel safe at school.
These figures underline the importance of creating school environments where children are not only protected from bullying but also feel confident enough to report their experiences and seek help.
Psychological Safety at the Core
A key concern highlighted during the conclave was the silence surrounding bullying. Fear of judgment, embarrassment or worsening the situation can often stop children from speaking up.
The speakers stressed the importance of psychological safety, where students can approach trusted adults without fear of blame, isolation or judgment. Accessible reporting channels, empathetic listening and supportive relationships were identified as important components of an effective anti-bullying ecosystem.
Speaking at the conclave, Ms. Madhuri Sarda, Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist and Founder, Annantaa, said:
“Bullying is not always visible; sometimes, it shows through a child’s silence, withdrawal or loss of confidence. As adults, we need to recognise these signs, listen without judgement and create spaces where children feel safe to speak up. Through ‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’, we want schools to see bullying not just as a disciplinary issue, but as an issue that can deeply affect a child’s emotional well-being.”
Dr. Suman Sood, Director & Principal, B. D. Memorial Jr.; Advisor, IVWS & B.D.M.I.; and National Core Committee Member, ECA, said:
“The collaboration between Annantaa and ECA brings together the perspectives of mental wellness and education to address bullying more meaningfully. By bringing educators into the conversation, we can work towards creating school environments where children feel safe, respected and confident to speak up. Such conversations are an important step towards building stronger and more supportive schools.”
Building a Culture of Safer Schools
The conclave reinforced the message that preventing bullying cannot depend on a single workshop, poster or policy. Instead, it needs to become part of everyday school culture through empathy, inclusion, trusted relationships and responsive support systems.
The larger message from ‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’ was clear: safer schools are built not only through rules, but through relationships and environments where every child feels heard, respected, supported and safe.
