Badlapur sexual abuse: State Government issues government resolution; guidelines for schools

Mumbai: The State Government on Wednesday issued guidelines for schools after the outrage and an intense agitation in Badlapur over the sexual abuse of two school girls.

Following provisions have been spelled out in the government resolution (GR):

*CCTV cameras should be installed on the premises of schools for the security of students, teachers and non-teaching staff. This has to be done within a month

*If schools run by local self-governing bodies do not have CCTVs, they should immediately take action for the purpose. Installed cameras and their footage must be checked at regular intervals. If anything objectionable is found in it, the principal and the school committee has to take action

*Care should be taken while appointing non-teaching staff. Conduct of the current employees should be monitored

*The school management must check the background of regular and outsourced or contractual employees. They must procure the character verification report from the police

*Instructions have been issued to all-medium schools to install a complaint box at schools. Instructions have also been issued about complaints in the box. The school must check if the complaint box is being effectively used. The principal will be held responsible if any laxity is found in this

*The circular stated the scope and functions of the Sakhi Savitri Samiti, Vidyarthi Suraksha Samiti and state-level Vidyarthi Suraksha Adhava Samiti. The State Education and Sport Department issued the GR on August 21, 2024