Punish guilty, sensitise teachers & students to end menace

All educational institutes are considered second home for students. These are learning temples where parents send their children just because they trust teachers and principals. So, it becomes the primary duty of institutes to save students not only from sexual harassment or molestation, but from other social evils too. Many incidents of molestation are reported in the print and electronic media. Molestation means sexual assault or abuse of a person, especially a woman or child. This problem can affect self esteem and hinder growth of students . As many as 3,500 cases of molestation are registered on an average in metros. Some go unreported too. We fail to realise that we live in a civilised society? Today, a girl child is the victim and tomorrow we too can become the target. To curb this heinous crime there must be a severe punishment. Each school/college must have a committee, including a prominent person, to look into incidents of sexual harassment. CCTVs must be installed in all educational institutes. Students must be made aware of different types of touch. Students must bring to the notice of the authorities concerned if they face such issue. Moreover, students, who become victims of molestation, must inform their parents. Experts can make children aware of sexual harassment or molestation in seminars and discussions. Children must be provided emergency for reporting such problems. Strict laws must be enacted to deal with molesters. The culprits must be expelled from institutes.

Dr Mohd Saleem

Thoughtful, structured supervision a must

Children of all ages and backgrounds are at risk of molestation in schools. There is dearth of laws to check violence perpetrated by teachers and the staff of educational institutions. Every day, we hear or read about an incident of sexual assault involving a child. The Government of India has failed to ban porn websites, chatrooms and other elements, which instigate people to indulge in such crimes. Most victims do not report such incidents. Besides combating inadequate legislation on child protection and care, a lot needs to be done to make our schools safe for students. The real problem lies with changing attitude of the public. Suitable environment coupled with natural surveillance on adults and students is the need of the hour. Every school staff screening must be supplemented with careful reference checks. Thoughtful and structured student supervision is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent sexual assaults by intruders and student perpetrators. Awareness must be spread on child sexual abuse prevention among pupils through posters. Schools should create a violence-free environment by addressing bullying. Staff and students must be encouraged to develop a culture of an ethical bystander. Implement vetting procedures for all the staff and volunteers. Re-vet all staff/ volunteers every two years. The best thing to do is to educate children. Prepare them to minimise the risk and increase chances of escape. Unless a foundation of healthy conversations and behaviour is laid around sexual development, isolated sessions about “good touch” and “bad touch” are insufficient and ineffective.

Ravi Chander Garg 

Aren’t we becoming immoral?

Hearing or reading news of molestation of girls, even toddlers brought this question to my mind. Are we now an immoral society? Our men are becoming sex-depraved robots. For them every child, girl or a woman is just an object for pleasure. Our society has to teach boys more than girls. Rules and law can punish them, but it takes decades to get an accused convicted. We must look within, especially parents. Are we really raising children well? 

Major Gurdeep Samra (Retd)

Teachers’ should keep a watch over students 

The authorities concerned must ensure that schools are safe from molestation. This menace is more in co-educational institutions. The class teacher must keep an eye on all students, especially the wrong-doers in the classroom and outside during the prayer time. Likewise, all teachers, who come to class for teaching must also keep a watch on students, identify culprits and report to the class in charge. This process must be followed inside as well as outside classrooms and during recess period on the school premises. The teacher in-charge must change seating of students after every four to five days so that they do not develop liking for each other. Also, the class monitor must be a brilliant student and be equally vigil in noting behaviour of students. Any student indulging in wrong doing must be punished, which includes expulsion from the school. Parents of such students must be informed about misdeed of their ward. Teachers must educate students through lectures for maintaining good character. Schools can take help of experts from outside to impress upon students to remain in discipline and imbibe values of good life. 

Dr G Dev

Education Department must act properly

There has been rapid increase in the number of molestation cases in educational institutions. Students must be educated about sexual harassment in schools. The Education Department must teach students about good touch and bad touch. We must protect our students. Mostly, women and children are victims of sexual harassment and molestation. The rise in number of such cases in government schools has forced the Education Department to take action for girls’ safety. Various measures have been suggested by the Women Commission of Punjab in a meeting, which discussed security of students. Girls must be educated and know what action they can take for their own security. Proper knowledge must be imparted by their teachers and parents for their protection.

Manpriya Kaur 

Girls should raise their voice

Today, girls don’t feel safe weather at home, schools or in colleges. The cases of molestation are rising day by day. Major reason is the weak bond between parents and children. A girl hesitates while talking about her ordeal if she is victim of molestation. Maximum cases of sexual harassment are reported from colleges and schools. What is management of colleges and schools doing? There are no safety panels in educational institutions. Where are the people with whom girls can discuss their problem or file complaint about the irrelevant behaviour of male students or teachers? Even if there are safety panels girls are aware about it. Nobody wants to talk about molestation. Till the time girls don’t raise their voice nobody will come forward and help them. The school/college authorities maintain silence and pressurise victims to keep quite if they complain against teachers or other persons regarding molestation or sexual harassment. Even boys become victims of molestation. Colleges or schools must constitute committees, which can provide succor to victims in such cases and bring the guilty to books.

Surekha Mahajan

Remove student-teacher communication gap

Students spend seven to eight hours in schools with teachers and classmates. School is like a second family to them. There should not be any communication gap between students and teachers. Ego, attitude and partiality must be shunned by both. Students must respect teachers. Teachers must have patience and treat all students well. They shouldn’t be aggressive and partial. Sometimes, due to lack of discussion and misunderstanding small issues become big and leave bad affect. Awareness must be created among children and teachers regarding moral values. Students must be taught what is good and what is bad for them. They should raise their voice against molestation instead of getting scared. The school authorities must keep a check on all activities of teachers and students. Strict action should be taken against anyone found guilty of sexual harassment or molestation. Rules should be equal for all. 

Kalpna Maurya

OPEN HOUSE COMMENT
Adopt zero tolerance approach for child abuse

Minna Zutshi

Educational institutions should have a zero tolerance for cases of child abuse/molestation. In case of any complaint, a thorough probe followed by a quick dispensation of justice is a must. Under no circumstances should the culprits be allowed to go scot-free. The children should feel safe and secure in schools. 

Regular safety audits in schools can be conducted. School counsellors can be roped in to make these audits successful. Counsellors should have a regular interaction with students so that the latter can confide in them in case of any problem. 

Installation of the CCTV cameras at vulnerable points and sensitisation of teachers on the subject are other measures that can help in enhancing the safety provisions and making the school environment safe and secure for students.