The State government would set up a high level committee to ensure safety of the school children, Home Minister, K.J. George said. The committee will be headed by an additional chief Secretary, he added.
Speaking to reporters at the public grievance meet in Vijaynagar on Friday, Mr. George said that the committee is being formulated based on high court directives which would not only be submitted a detailed report and formulate safety guidelines but also monitor its implementation periodically. The committee would have representatives from Police and Education Department.
Earlier, city police had issued school safety guidelines. However few school managements had challenged this following which the High Court has directed the home department not to penalize the schools but to take a different approach to ensure safety of the children.
Referring to the recent spurt is sexual abuse cases in schools across the city, Mr. George said that only a holistic approach could control the menace. He added that the school managements should own up responsibility and police can not do much in such cases, as they do not have access to the premises. He added that the state government would implement the safety guidelines at government schools as well.
Mr. George said that the state government was serious about delivering justice in cases of sexual abuse and had instituted a fast track court for speedy trials in such cases. He also added that repeat offenders would be booked under Goonda Act, to ensure stringent action possible.
