PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Uttarakhand State Commission for Women (USCW) chairwoman Kusum Kandwal has called on schools and colleges to hold monthly meetings with female (and male) students to discuss any problems or concerns they may have. These meetings should create a secure environment for students to report any inappropriate behaviour from teachers or other issues they encounter on campus. She said this in the wake of recent incidents involving allegations of sexual harassment kf students by teachers in schools in Dehradun, Chamoli and a college in Pithoragarh.
Kandwal expressed her concern regarding these reported incidents of alleged sexual harassment. She said that within just a few days, incidents of alleged molestation and sexual harassment of female students by teachers had emerged in the districts of Pithoragarh and Dehradun.
Taking this into account, she has instructed the relevant officials and asked that they take strict action regarding these matters.
She stressed that the commission stands firmly with the female students in the State. In light of these incidents, she recommended that both colleges and school administrations in the State should acknowledge their responsibilities. To prevent similar cases, the administration of every college and school across the State should ensure that they hold meetings with their students, particularly females. During these meetings, they should encourage students to report any inappropriate behaviour by teachers or any other issues affecting them on campus. Additionally, in the said meetings, the senior officials of the school or college, including the principal and others should be present.
In addition, school and college administrations should invite parents to monthly meetings to discuss whether their children are experiencing any issues at school. Addressing this could help reduce such alleged sexual harassment cases in the schools and colleges of the State.
“The commission stands firmly with the females. For any assistance or in cases of crimes against them, they can reach out to the commission directly via its website,” Kandwal said. She assured that the commission would take prompt action in such matters.
