Maharashtra govt issues guidelines to ensure safety of girls in schools, makes self-defence training ‘mandatory’
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Mumbai Suburban District Cabinet Minister and Defence Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has given important instructions to the Mumbai Suburban District Collector regarding the safety of women and children. He wrote a letter stressing the need for all necessary measures to be taken for the safety of women and girl students in schools and colleges. The aim is to prevent crimes against women and children.
Cabinet Minister Lodha stated that self-defence training will be imparted to young women in all Industrial Training Institutes in the state and in schools and colleges in the Mumbai suburban area from September 1. In his letter, Minister Lodha said, “The rise in crimes against women and children is a matter of concern for the government, the administration and our society. The incident in Badlapur has led to public suggestions for preventive measures. Such incidents take place due to negligence regarding the safety of women. Keeping this in view, strict instructions should be issued to all educational institutions from kindergarten to post-graduate levels in the Mumbai suburban area. Schools, colleges and various institutions should also thoroughly check the staff appointed by them to ensure that no untoward incidents take place and everyone should take precautions.”
The letter stated that all school premises, except the toilets, should be under surveillance by CCTV cameras. It is mandatory to ensure that the cameras are in good working order. A female employee should be permanently assigned to monitor the outside of the girls’ toilets.
ANI reports, “It should be strictly enforced that female sanitation workers should be responsible for cleaning toilets meant for minor girls and girls studying in the 10th class. It should be made mandatory to have a female staff member present in buses, taxis and vans used for transporting students. Police should conduct a check on sanitation staff working in schools.”
Maharashtra Schools to establish Vishakha committees after the Badlapur incident
Maharashtra School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar on August 20 announced that ‘Vishakha committees’ will be formed in schools. Explaining the move, he said schools will face action if CCTV cameras installed on their premises are found not working.
(With contributions from PTI)
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