After facing stiff resistance and criticism over repeated incidents of sexual violence against children in schools, the ruling Congress Government in Karnataka has decided to come out with a child protection policy for safer schools in the State.
The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting.
According to law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachandra, “With the intention to provide safety of children in schools, the Karnataka Cabinet has given its approval for child protection policy.”
He said the policy will be applicable to all schools whether they are under CBSE, ICSE and other boards, including international schools. The guidelines and rules with respect to the policy will soon be issued to schools.
Jayachandra said, “The policy mainly emphasises on the responsibility of school management, teachers and parents.” It speaks about the appointment of school safety officers along with convening regular review meetings of the committee.
“We will only issue policy guidelines, but in case of non-implementation or improper implementation we will have to come out with a Government-approved order or a law,” the Minister added.
Many incidents of sexual assaults of minor girls in schools across the State have led to growing public anger against the apathy of Siddaramaiah Government. The incidents also raised many pertinent questions about the safety of children in schools.
In the latest incident early this week, a three-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted twice in the premises of a private school here, after which the accused school attendant was arrested. The incident was followed by the rape of a six-year-old girl in a school by her Hindi teacher who was also arrested. In another incident in October, an office assistant in a school here was arrested for sexual assault of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl.
Meanwhile, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by her 63-year-old teacher several times in the school premises, this happened barely a month after the rape of a six-year-old girlat ‘Vibgyor High’ school here.