MALAPPURAM: A review meet of the District Child Protection Unit to discuss the issues of children especially of students who face rampant abuse on public transport has decided to constitute community vigilance committees in all the 15 blocks of the district. “The move is to ensure public participation in monitoring the abuses against children, misuse of drugs and atrocities against them,” said Sameer Machingal, DCPU officer, Malappuram.
He also said an awareness campaign on child rights would be launched among the bus operators and drivers. The failure of the Police authorities in tackling issues of students who rely on public transport to reach school came in for harsh criticism during the meet. The DCPU had earlier directed the concerned authorities to tackle and resolve the issues of thousands of students in the district with a set of instructions.
The meet which reviewed the implementation of the instructions found that no lead had been taken despite repeated cases of child abuse and misbehaviour by bus drivers and others. “To curb the recurring incidents of misbehaviour against students by private bus operators, the police has to carry out a raid at least once a month,” Sameer said.
