At a time when sexual assaults and rapes are being reported in city-based schools, B.S. Jayaramarao, Secretary of Adarsha High School, suggested that ensuring that women and girls are ‘properly’ dressed would reduce such crimes.
Ironically, this statement was made at a conference that was organised to chalk out preventive measures to prevent sexual assault in schools in the Malleshwaram constituency. Over 100 persons from 60 schools participated in the conference.
Mr. Jayaramarao further said that sexual assaults only take place in “high-end” schools and among “high-fi” women and girls.
“Nobody looks at children who live in slums. Rich girls need to dress up appropriately. There is a need to control and bring a dress code for girls,” he said. He said that these instances do not take place in schools like his.
No reactionHis comments, however, did not elicit any response from the audience that consisted of headmasters and representatives of managements of government, aided and unaided schools.
Mr. Jayaramarao was later asked by mediapersons to explain how dressing was connected with the sexual assault on children. He was unable to provide an answer.
Malleswaram MLA C.N. Ashwathnarayan later told reporters that he did not endorse the view of Mr. Jayaramarao.
“I did not respond to his statement, as I wanted people to express their opinion,” he said.
