PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
In light of recent incidents of alleged sexual harassment and molestation of students in Chamoli, the Education department has implemented strict measures to ensure the safety of students in all schools across the State. Following instructions from Education minister Dhan Singh Rawat, the department has come in an alert mode.
Director, Secondary Education Mukul Kumar Sati said the reported incident of alleged sexual harassment in Chamoli is sad and concerning. He emphasised that strict action is being taken on the minister’s directives. Monitoring and safety protocols are being strictly enforced in schools to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. He said that departmental instructions have been issued to district and block-level officials to closely monitor safety standards in schools and to exercise special vigilance. Chief Education Officers (CEO’s) in all districts have been directed to take concrete and effective measures to ensure the safety of students in their schools, which will be periodically reviewed at the state level.
Additionally, Sati said that the School Education department has arranged for the deployment of guest teachers to ensure that teaching remains uninterrupted while regular appointments are made to fill vacant positions for Assistant Teachers (LT) and Lecturers in the state’s secondary schools.
He said that in August 2015, a committee formed at the block level in Chamoli district selected Yunus Ansari for the position of guest lecturer in Political Science, posting him at the Government Inter College, Irani, Dasoli. The appointed guest teacher was later transferred to the Government Inter College, Gauna, in February 2020, following the appointment of a regular teacher at his previous school.
Recently, following serious complaints regarding sexual abuse and molestation of students by Yunus Ansari, the department has terminated his service with immediate effect, he said.
Education minister Rawat said, “The safety of students in schools is the government’s top priority. Department officials have received clear instructions to enhance security measures in schools. All CEO’s have also been tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of security arrangements in each school and issuing necessary instructions to school principals.’’
