As an air of sexual abuse permeates across the country, the HRD Ministry is bringing together NGOs and civil society groups to chalk out a plan to deal with cases of abuse at a school level. The move comes following the alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl in a prominent Delhi school by a classmate.

"There are several rules and guidelines in place but still several cases are reported where children are sexually abused. This issue needs to be tackled beyond the usual good touch-bad touch lessons," a senior HRD Ministry official said.

The role of school authorities has come under the scanner after the girl's mother last week approached the police and alleged that her daughter was "inappropriately touched" by a classmate. She alleged that the girl returned home and complained of pain in private parts of her body. She was later taken to a hospital where doctors alleged sexual assault.