1. Purpose

Meritza Classes ("Meritza Classes", "Platform", "we", "our", or "us") is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, respectful, and child-friendly learning environment.

As many users of the Platform are minors, child safety is a fundamental priority in all Platform operations.

This Child Safety Policy establishes the standards, responsibilities, safeguards, reporting mechanisms, and enforcement procedures designed to protect children participating in Platform services.

This Policy applies to:

• Students
• Parents and guardians
• Mentors
• Platform representatives
• Contractors
• Service providers
• All users interacting through the Platform

This Policy supplements the Terms & Conditions, Mentor Agreement, Student Agreement, Community Guidelines, Privacy Policy, and all other Platform policies.

2. Our Commitment to Child Safety

Meritza Classes maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward:

• Child abuse
• Child exploitation
• Child endangerment
• Grooming
• Sexual misconduct
• Harassment
• Bullying
• Predatory behavior
• Emotional abuse
• Coercion
• Manipulation
• Any conduct that threatens the safety or well-being of a child

Protecting children takes priority over commercial, operational, or business considerations.

3. Definition of a Child

For purposes of this Policy, a child refers to any individual below eighteen (18) years of age.

Additional protections may apply where required by applicable law.

4. Expected Standards of Conduct

All Platform participants must:

• Treat children respectfully.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Communicate appropriately.
• Act in good faith.
• Promote a safe learning environment.
• Immediately report concerns.

All interactions involving children must remain educational, professional, and appropriate.

5. Professional Boundaries

Mentors and Platform representatives shall:

• Maintain professional relationships with students.
• Limit communications to educational purposes.
• Avoid inappropriate familiarity.
• Avoid favoritism.
• Avoid dependency relationships.
• Maintain reasonable educational boundaries.

Mentorship relationships must never be used for personal, social, romantic, financial, or inappropriate purposes.

6. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited:

Child Exploitation

Any attempt to exploit, manipulate, abuse, or endanger a child.

Grooming

Any conduct intended to build inappropriate emotional dependency, trust, secrecy, or influence over a child.

Harassment

Including verbal, emotional, psychological, discriminatory, or sexual harassment.

Inappropriate Communications

Including:

• Sexual discussions.
• Explicit content.
• Suggestive language.
• Inappropriate personal conversations.
• Requests for secrecy.

Intimidation

Any threatening, coercive, manipulative, or abusive behavior.

Retaliation

Retaliating against individuals who report concerns.

Any such conduct may result in immediate removal from the Platform.

7. Contact Sharing Restrictions

To enhance child safety, mentors, students, and parents shall not exchange:

• Personal phone numbers.
• WhatsApp numbers.
• Personal email addresses.
• Social media profiles.
• Telegram IDs.
• Direct messaging accounts.
• Personal communication channels.

All communications relating to Platform services should occur through approved channels.

Unauthorized contact sharing may be treated as a child-safety concern.

8. Off-Platform Communications

Mentors shall not initiate or encourage private off-platform communications with students.

Students and parents shall not request private communication arrangements with mentors.

Any attempt to move communications outside approved Platform systems may result in investigation.

9. Recording and Privacy

Children's privacy must be respected at all times.

Users shall not:

• Record sessions without authorization.
• Share session recordings.
• Capture screenshots.
• Publish student information.
• Disclose private educational information.

Unauthorized recording or distribution may result in immediate disciplinary action.

10. Parental Involvement

Parents and guardians are encouraged to:

• Monitor student participation.
• Remain informed regarding mentorship activities.
• Raise concerns promptly.
• Cooperate with Platform investigations.

For minor students, parents remain important partners in maintaining a safe environment.

11. Reporting Safety Concerns

Users should immediately report:

• Suspicious behavior.
• Inappropriate communications.
• Harassment.
• Grooming concerns.
• Boundary violations.
• Abuse allegations.
• Child endangerment concerns.
• Unauthorized contact-sharing attempts.

Reports may be submitted through official support channels.

Meritza Classes encourages prompt reporting even where concerns are uncertain.

12. Investigation Procedures

Meritza Classes reserves the right to:

• Review complaints.
• Review communications.
• Review attendance records.
• Request information.
• Interview involved parties.
• Preserve relevant records.
• Conduct internal investigations.

All users agree to cooperate fully with child safety investigations.

Failure to cooperate may result in Platform restrictions.

13. Immediate Protective Actions

Where child safety concerns arise, Meritza Classes may immediately:

• Suspend accounts.
• Restrict communications.
• Cancel sessions.
• Remove users from the Platform.
• Preserve evidence.
• Conduct urgent investigations.

Such actions may occur before a final determination is made.

Protection of children shall take priority.

14. Referral to Authorities

Where required by law or reasonably necessary to protect children, Meritza Classes reserves the right to:

• Report concerns to law enforcement authorities.
• Cooperate with government agencies.
• Share information with child protection authorities.
• Comply with legal requests.

Nothing in this Policy limits the Platform's ability to cooperate with lawful investigations.

15. False Reports

Users should act in good faith when reporting concerns.

Knowingly false, malicious, fraudulent, or retaliatory reports may themselves constitute policy violations.

However, good-faith reports will not be penalized merely because allegations are ultimately unsubstantiated.

16. Confidentiality of Reports

Meritza Classes will make reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality of child safety reports.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where:

• Investigation requirements exist.
• Legal obligations arise.
• Child protection concerns require disclosure.
• Regulatory requirements apply.

17. Training and Awareness

Meritza Classes may provide:

• Safety guidance.
• Educational materials.
• Policy updates.
• Training resources.
• Best-practice recommendations.

To mentors, students, parents, and Platform personnel.

Participation in such initiatives may be mandatory where determined necessary by the Platform.

18. Enforcement

Violations of this Policy may result in:

• Warnings.
• Restrictions.
• Suspension.
• Permanent removal.
• Termination of agreements.
• Withholding of benefits.
• Legal action.
• Reporting to authorities.

The severity of enforcement shall depend on the nature and seriousness of the violation.

19. Limitation of Liability

While Meritza Classes implements reasonable child-safety measures, no online platform can eliminate all risks.

Parents and guardians acknowledge that:

• Ongoing supervision remains important.
• Children should be educated about online safety.
• Meritza Classes cannot guarantee prevention of all misconduct.

Nothing in this section limits the Platform's commitment to child protection.

20. Policy Modifications

Meritza Classes reserves the right to amend, revise, replace, or update this Policy at any time.

Updated versions become effective upon publication unless otherwise stated.

Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of revised versions.

21. Dispute Resolution

Any dispute relating to this Policy shall be governed by the dispute resolution provisions contained in the Meritza Classes Terms & Conditions.

Parties agree to first attempt good-faith resolution before initiating arbitration proceedings.

22. Governing Law

This Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India.

Subject to applicable arbitration provisions, courts located in Delhi, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

23. Contact Information

24. Child Safety Acknowledgement

By using the Platform, participating in mentorship activities, or interacting with Platform users, participants acknowledge that:

• They have read and understood this Child Safety Policy.
• They agree to comply with its requirements.
• They understand the importance of maintaining child safety.
• They agree to report concerns promptly.
• They understand that violations may result in suspension, termination, legal action, or referral to authorities.

Meritza Classes is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and supportive educational environment for every child.