Delhi Government directive to primary schools not to employ male staff is a sign of the times
In future, our little ones may not have the privilege of fond memories of a kaka/chacha/dada/bhaiyya which was the moniker by which male members of non-teaching staff at primary school were usually addressed by kids. It is a sign of the perverse and dangerous times that we live in that the Delhi Government has had to issue a directive instructing all primary schools in the Capital not to deploy any male worker on the premises. Given the spate of incidents of assault, perversion and torture inflicted upon children on school campuses in recent times, there is no point crying foul and alleging gender stereotyping. For, even if there is an element of stereotyping, the fact is that men are increasingly seen as predators in schools. The domain of childcare has traditionally been more or less exclusive to women, who are considered to be more caring, loving, kind, helpful, charitable, compassionate and courageous though there are exceptions. But a rule not made for the exceptions.
We have to accept the grim fact that when it concerns our kids, especially at the primary level, men are a hazard on the evidence available. Realities have changed. Child abuse is a clear and present danger and all means are valid to prevent it even if it is unfair to many men. Children as young as three or four years old have been victims of sexual assault. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, a child is sexually abused every 15 minutes in the country. No parent can afford to take a risk and the Delhi Government move is, in that context, welcome. Our kids are the most unsafe when at school, it seems, and they spend they spend almost half of the day there. Another aspect of the issue is that the move will help dilute presumptions of women not being able to perform the role of security guards.
Nevertheless, it must be accepted that this is largely a symbolic gesture. Strict guidelines must also be framed against child abuse and there should be a stringent mechanism to ensure the women workers employed are trained by counselors who too must be deployed in schools to prevent and detect child abuse. Most importantly, zero tolerance towards abuse needs to be the policy and children have to be sensitized and given lessons to differentiate between good/bad touch. Our aim must be to permanently get rid of the child abuse plague. The Government's decision is in tune with several precautionary measures it has taken ever since the death of a Class II student of Ryan International school and is necessary for the times we live in.