Three months after 17-year-old Gauthami, a student of Pragathi PU College here, was shot dead by an attendant in the college, the Department of Pre-University Education (DPUE) has come up with a unique plan. The department has asked colleges to bring all their students under a group insurance scheme.
In a circular sent to all private colleges in the State — aided and unaided — the DPUE has asked them to submit an action taken report on the proposal. DPUE Director Sushama Godbole told The Hindu that it was not a full-fledged scheme yet, but only a step in that direction.
The circular makes no mention of who will bear the cost of the insurance premium. “We have given the colleges direction to formulate a scheme at their level in consultation with insurance companies. We have floated the idea and depending on the feedback, we will take it up at the government level,” she said.
Ms. Godbole said the proposal was based on the lines of the insurance schemes available for industry workers to cover workplace hazards.
While the death of a 17-year-old student of Pragathi PU College, Kadugodi, has led to some thought on the safety and security of students, the college she was studying appears to be hanging by a thread.
The committee on preventing sexual violence against women and children, headed by MLC V.S. Ugrappa, has pointed to violations by the college, and the Deputy Director of Pre-University (DDPU) has recommended cancellation of its recognition. K. Venkateshappa, DDPU (Bengaluru South), said he had forwarded the recommendation to the PU Board.
