Lack of safety measures in school has caused heartburn among parents
Picture for representational purpose
Bengaluru: While the controversy over the new DPI and police guidelines continues, the lack of a comprehensive, practical mechanism to ensure the safety of their children in schools has caused much heartburn among parents, who have been waiting for it since the Vibgyor High rape and even gave a set of suggestions which included psycho-analytical tests for teachers and staff, the week after the incident.
“The DPI guidelines came as a surprise to us because very little was done to involve us in framing them,” says Major Aditi, who is part of a task force called The Fighters – Bangalore against Rape, which was formed by parents soon after the Vibgyor case.
“While safety for children has become the buzzword across the nation, the people who were directly involved in the Vibgyor case haven’t been brought to book,” she laments. “Where is the chargesheet? What happened to the teachers who were involved? Where is the administrator who handles background checks? The rape case has been forgotten and nothing has come out of it. What are we waiting for? Another rape?” she demands.
Mr Nagasimha Rao, convenor of the RTE task force, insists that all schools must have a definite child protection policy. “The objective now is only to install CCTVs. The parents are actually willing to pool in to buy the cameras for the safety of their children. But the schools are not even willing to do this, because CCTVs will expose many of their problems. Many schools, even the expensive ones, lack proper water supply and follow corporal punishment,” he claims, objecting to the new guidelines asking the police to make fortnightly visits to schools.
“Police in uniform are not allowed to enter schools, only the special juvenile police are allowed to do this, according to the JJ Act,” he says.
Highlights of new DPI guidelines
On safety
Child safety committee must in all schools
School chairman must head the committee and members must include students, teachers, parents and security personnel.
for Parents
Ensure that their child does not mingle/ speak with strangers
Ensure that the child does not become friendly with someone without their knowledge
If a child’s mobile receives any inappropriate sms, videos, lodge a complaint with the police
Admit the child in a neighbourhood school
For managements
Have separate seating arrangements for students of different classes
Have a separate toilet or bathroom for girls and women staff. Keep a good distance between the boys’ and girls’ toilets
Appoint outsourced staff only from prestigious agencies
Keep local police in loop over various appointments
Appoint school vigilance
officers to ensure safety
Prohibit corporal punishment and dark room concept
Use technology to monitor school vans/buses. Prohibit strangers from entering vans
Have good lighting on campus
Install CCTV cameras
Ensure students do not fall prey to drugs
Send women teachers on
school trips
Ensure that school children
move in groups
Create awareness about good and bad touch among children
Issue identity cards for all
For police
Take immediate action in cases related to school children
Visit schools immediately
after receiving complaint
Spot action in eve teasing cases
Protect the identity of the abused
On school vehicles
Speed governor must for all school vehicles
Parents must travel in bus/vans regularly to ensure that safety measures are implemented
Attenders must for all children
( Source : dc correspondent )
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