Annantaa and ECA Host Anti-Bullying Conclave, Bring Kolkata’s Educators Together for Safer Schools
Kolkata, September 1, 2026: Bullying does not always appear as a visible confrontation or an obvious act of intimidation. Sometimes, it manifests quietly—in a child becoming withdrawn, avoiding school, losing confidence or hesitating to speak. Addressing this less visible dimension of bullying, Annantaa, in association with the Early Childhood Association (ECA), organised ‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’, an anti-bullying conclave that brought together leading educators and mental-wellness professionals to deliberate on recognising early warning signs, responding with sensitivity and creating school environments where children feel safe to speak up.
The conclave witnessed strong participation 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 event also featured Dr. Suman Sood, Director & Principal, B. D. Memorial Jr.; Advisor, IVWS & B.D.M.I.; and National Core Committee Member, ECA.
Reflecting Annantaa’s broader commitment to mental and emotional wellness, the conclave placed emphasis on early identification, timely intervention and the creation of emotionally supportive school environments. Through ‘Safe Schools, Stronger Minds’, educators shared experiences and explored practical approaches to strengthening institutional responses to bullying.
The central panel discussion, “From Awareness to Action: How Schools Can Recognise, Respond to and Prevent Bullying,” examined how schools can move beyond awareness towards sustained prevention and meaningful support. The discussion highlighted the importance of identifying concerns at an early stage, responding sensitively and establishing clear systems through which students can seek assistance. It also underlined the role of educators in listening attentively to children and recognising behavioural or emotional changes that may indicate distress.
The panel further stressed the need to nurture empathy, respect and healthy ways of managing differences from an early age. By addressing teasing, exclusion and interpersonal conflicts before they escalate, schools can play a crucial role in preventing more serious forms of bullying.
The issue assumes particular significance in Kolkata and West Bengal. 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% sought help from friends—findings that point towards the possibility of significant 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% said they had been excluded from group activities and 19% reported that they did not feel safe at school. The findings underscore the need for schools to focus not merely on identifying incidents of bullying, but also on building environments where children feel confident enough to report their experiences and seek support.
A recurring concern surrounding bullying is the silence that often accompanies it. Fear of judgement, embarrassment or the possibility of making the situation worse can prevent children from seeking help. The conclave therefore highlighted the importance of psychological safety—creating an environment in which students believe that speaking up will result in support rather than blame, punishment or isolation.Such an environment requires trusted relationships, accessible reporting mechanisms and adults who are willing to listen with empathy. In this context, anti-bullying initiatives become part of a broader commitment to building 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.”
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.”The conclave reinforced the message that safer schools cannot be created through a single workshop, poster or policy. Preventing bullying requires a sustained, school-wide culture built around empathy, inclusion, trusted relationships and responsive support. When children know that they will be heard, respected and supported, schools can move beyond simply responding to bullying incidents and work towards creating an environment where bullying is less likely to take root.
