Udupi SP announces holistic safety measures for schools/colleges

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Aug 17, 2014:  Speaking at the meeting organised for the heads of schools and colleges coming under Udupi assembly constituency,  Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad has called upon all the sections of society to ensure secure and safe atmosphere for students in schools and colleges.

The SP said police alone cannot  end the sexual atrocities against the students particularly girls. He urged the school managements to shoulder the responsibilities of ensuring safety in their institutions by putting in place a slew of measures including CCTV cameras and collecting police verification certificate before recruiting the staffs. The CCTV cameras will act as deterrents. It should be put up in all classrooms and staff rooms and vital points. The ZP CEO would be contacted to consider offering CCTV cameras to government educational institutions. Disciplinary committee should be set up in educational institutions and police should take part in meetings held for parents. Besides, the school management should have police contact numbers and it should be displayed in schools and colleges prominently.

SP’s safety measures  :  SP Rajendra Prasad stressed that all educational institutions should go for SAMS (School Attendance Management System) software to enable parents to know about their kids in schools. The registration at the entrance should be made compulsory for all institutions. Usage of mobile phones should be banned from the school premises and the minors should be totally discouraged from riding vehicles. The ragging issues should be brought to the notice of the police. Sufficient women staff should be deployed in school vans and buses.

Elaborating over the responsibility to be taken up by the police, the SP said the police should visit schools and colleges coming under their jurisdiction. Besides, constant patrolling will be taken up. The women police personnel should talk to the female students in order to build confidence and make them to speak out.   MLA Pramodh Madhwaraj said Udupi assembly constituency should be the role model by taking up zero tolerance attitude towards sexual violence.  He said the school managements and police should jointly take up the drive.

Fear of holding special class :  The fear against Section 2 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 was expressed by the teaching fraternity, as the section holds teachers taking special classes guilty. However, the teachers argued that most of the times the teachers take up special classes to those students, who are weak in studies.

A team was formed comprising SP, DDPI, DDPU and school, college heads on the occasion. Representatives from Government Women’s First Grade College, MGM Pre-University College, St Cecily, Olakadu Government Composite School and Vaikunta Baliga Law College were chosen to be a part of the team. A meeting will be held by the team shortly to chalk out plans ensuring safety to the girls in schools and colleges and wet other possible measures as well.