Sometimes, bullying did not look like a fight or an obvious act of intimidation; it looked like a child becoming quieter, avoiding school or slowly losing confidence. It was this less visible side of bullying that Annantaa, in collaboration with the Early Childhood Association (ECA), brought into focus through ‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’, an anti-bullying conclave that brought together educators and mental-wellness professionals to discuss how schools could recognise these signs, respond with care and create an environment where children felt safe enough to speak up.
The conversation brought together a strong representation from Kolkata’s education community, including 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.
The conclave reflected Annantaa’s wider focus on mental and emotional wellness, emphasising early identification, timely intervention and emotionally supportive environments. Through Safe Schools, Stronger Minds, it brought educators together to share experiences and discuss practical ways to strengthen schools’ response to bullying. The larger message was clear: safer schools are built not just through rules, but through trusted relationships, responsive systems and a culture where every child feels heard, supported and safe.
The central panel discussion, “From Awareness to Action: How Schools Can Recognise, Respond to and Prevent Bullying,” focused on how schools can move beyond awareness towards meaningful prevention and support. The discussion emphasised early identification, sensitive responses and clear systems, while highlighting the role of educators in listening to children and recognising concerns. It also stressed the importance of building empathy, respect and healthy ways of handling differences from an early age, so that teasing, exclusion and conflict can be addressed before they grow into bigger concerns.
The concern is particularly relevant closer home. A study conducted among 254 students in 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, pointing to the possibility of underreporting. A separate 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. The numbers underline why schools need to focus not only on identifying bullying, but also on creating spaces where children feel comfortable speaking about it and seeking help.
A key concern around bullying is the silence that often surrounds it, as fear of judgment, embarrassment or worsening the situation can prevent children from seeking help. The conclave highlighted the importance of psychological safety, where students feel confident that speaking up will lead to support rather than blame or isolation. This requires trusted relationships, accessible reporting channels and adults who listen with empathy, making anti-bullying efforts part of a larger commitment to creating school communities where every child feels safe, seen, respected and supported.
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.”
Speaking at the conclave, Dr. Suman Sood, Director & Principal, B. D. Memorial Jr.; Advisor, IVWS & B.D.M.I., 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 safer schools begins with creating spaces where children feel comfortable being themselves. Safe Schools, Stronger Minds reinforced that preventing bullying cannot depend on a single workshop, poster or policy, but must be woven into everyday school life through empathy, inclusion, trusted relationships and responsive support. When children know they will be heard, respected and supported, schools can move from simply responding to bullying to creating a culture where it is less likely to take root.
