The rural girl child in Maharashtra will now get safety key chains installed with a ‘panic button’ to use in case of an assault, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Deepak Kesarkar announced in the State Council on Wednesday. He said each panic chip would cost the State around ₹1,000.
Mr. Kesarkar was speaking during a short-notice discussion on crimes reported in ashram shalas. The Minister said that newly appointed women superintendents will be monitoring signals from the key chain.
A spate of sexual assault cases from western Maharashtra had forced the Council to take up the issue. In a recent case, eight residents of Minai Ashram Shala in Walva tehsil alleged that they were sexually assaulted. The issue of widespread harassment in the shalas was brought to the floor by Shiv Sena legislator Neelam Gorhe. Mr. Kesarkar said the local police would trace the location of the girl who sent the SOS signal through a tracking software.
Other members of the House demanded the appountment of a security committee to suggest measures to ensure the safety of girls studying in ashram shalas. Women members such as Congress MLC Husna Bano Khalife, Nationalist Congress Party MLC Vidya Chavan and Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande expressed serious concerns over the security of the girl child.
Ram Shinde, Minister for Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes, OBC and SBC (Special Backward Class) Welfare, said the government has already suspended 14 officials in connection with assault cases in the shalas.
He said, “We have issued directions to implement the Vishakha Committee Guidelines in the shalas.”
