Sexual harassment in schools on the rise
HYDERABAD: The alleged rape of a class XI student of Parkwood International School by its director, might have shocked the city. But activists dealing with child and youth issues claim that sexual harassment in schools are alarmingly on the rise.
From posh private schools to dilapidated government ones, children in their early teens are getting molested and even raped while in school, observes child rights activists from the city who are now fighting for children's right to safe education rather than free education. Some of the activists have even asked for implementation of a redressal mechanism for child grievances in all schools in the state to ensure safety of children.
According to activists, the number of students who get molested every year in state schools would be nothing less than a couple of hundred. While the number indicates only the reported cases, most of which come from private schools in urban areas, the government schools in the city and semi-urban localities take the next place in the abuse chart.
When asked about reported cases, the city police officials said that the number of cases reported in the past two years, itself would be an indication to the kind of `abuse traps' the schools have become. "In a recent case, a 10-year-old child was repeatedly molested by her physical education teacher in a private school. While the parents complained at first, they did not want to register a case and hence the teacher could get away with just a dismissal order when he should have been punished for statutory rape," a police official said.
In a more gruesome case, a 14-year-old class IX student who was repeatedly raped by her teacher was forced to deliver a child as the parents were not aware of her pregnancy. The case was reported from a city government school and the only punishment doled out to the accused was a suspension, an activist who dealt with the case said.
"While most students who were molested reported the matter directly to their parents, in many cases the issue was hushed up. There is a great fear among the parents to come out with such cases and the schools punish the teachers by dismissing them. The same teacher would continue in some other school and continue to molest other students," said M Venkat Reddy, director, MV Foundation. Referring to the Parkwood case, he said that even high end schools like international and global ones should be under the government scanner to prevent such instances of harassment.
Due to the rise in cases, an NGO working with child rights, Divya Disha has petitioned the secondary education department to put in place a redressal mechanism for children where they are allowed to report such cases. "We have asked the state government to introduce a redressal mechanism for students grievances along with the implementation of the Right to Education Act (RTA). We have also requested them to formulate a time-bound framework for starting such redressal mechanisms in schools," said Isidore Phillips, convener, Divya Disha. The NGO has petitioned the principal secretary of school education, Sambashiva Rao on the implementation of sexual harassment combat mechanisms in schools.
Man held for rape
CHENNAI: The police on Sunday arrested a 53-year-old priest at Ayanavaram on charges of rape and molestation. The arrested, pastor Selvaraj, has been running Faith Assembly Church' on Palani Andavar Koil Street for the past 15 years.
According to the police, Mercy Maria (36) of Ayanavaram, an employee of the church, was allegedly seduced by the priest six years ago and they lived together for a while. Later, Suganthi (41) of Ayanavaram met the pastor to speak about her drunken husband when Selvaraj tried to make sexual advances. Based on their complaints, the Ayanavaram police registered two separate cases and arrested Selvaraj. He was booked under several charges, including cheating, molesting and raping. He will be remanded in judicial custody on Monday after being produced before a magistarte's court in the city.
Vietnamese governor suspended over sex scandal
HANOI, Vietnam: Vietnam's ruling Communist Party has expelled a provincial governor from its ranks for soliciting prostitutes.
Communist Party newspaper Nhan Dan reported Monday that Nguyen Truong To, who leads Ha Giang province, was accused of seriously violating codes of conduct for a party member by having "unhealthy relations with prostitutes" and leading a "self-indulgent lifestyle."
Nhan Dan said To also was suspended from his job. Local media have reported that police say they have evidence To had an affair with a prostitute, including photographs and text messages.
It is not unusual for the party to expel members for transgressions ranging from moral crimes to challenges to its one-party rule.
Hockey Abuse Case Goes To Police
Twenty-year-old Ranjita Devi from Manipur had accused the 55-year-old coach of misconduct during the team’s training camps and tournaments.
In a parallel development, the Weightlifting Federation of India formed a three-member committee to probe charges of sexual harassment of junior lifters by an unnamed coach, as alleged by Sydney Olympics bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari.
In the first action of its kind, Hockey India referred the matter to the government of India and the Delhi police commissioner.
HI general secretary Narinder Batra said the decision was taken after a “written complaint was submitted by Ranjita on July 21”. Said Mr Batra, “Hockey India feels the written version of Ranjita Devi was highly credible and it had some specific charges. In view of the Supreme Court judgment in the Vishakha case regarding sexual harassment at the workplace, which relates to Section 354 of the IPC, we are marking a copy to the Delhi police commissioner for taking suo moto notice so that this can be taken to its logical conclusion.” He added: “So we have given our recommendations and forwarded a copy to the police.”
Hockey India’s decision could have severe repercussions for Mr Kaushik, who may find himself in a legal tangle. Asked if Ranjita had provided any concrete evidence against Mr Kaushik, Mr Batra said “the player’s six-page reply was credible enough”.
“If a woman gives a written complaint, it has to be taken seriously, as per the Supreme Court. It has to be taken at face value,” he said. Mr Kaushik, on his part, refused to comment, but sources close to him indicated that the 55-year-old had begun to explore legal options to clear his name.
In a parallel development, the Weightlifting Federation of India formed a three-member committee to probe charges of sexual harassment of junior lifters by an unnamed coach, as alleged by Sydney Olympics bronze medallist Karnam Malleswari.
In the first action of its kind, Hockey India referred the matter to the government of India and the Delhi police commissioner.
HI general secretary Narinder Batra said the decision was taken after a “written complaint was submitted by Ranjita on July 21”. Said Mr Batra, “Hockey India feels the written version of Ranjita Devi was highly credible and it had some specific charges. In view of the Supreme Court judgment in the Vishakha case regarding sexual harassment at the workplace, which relates to Section 354 of the IPC, we are marking a copy to the Delhi police commissioner for taking suo moto notice so that this can be taken to its logical conclusion.” He added: “So we have given our recommendations and forwarded a copy to the police.”
Hockey India’s decision could have severe repercussions for Mr Kaushik, who may find himself in a legal tangle. Asked if Ranjita had provided any concrete evidence against Mr Kaushik, Mr Batra said “the player’s six-page reply was credible enough”.
“If a woman gives a written complaint, it has to be taken seriously, as per the Supreme Court. It has to be taken at face value,” he said. Mr Kaushik, on his part, refused to comment, but sources close to him indicated that the 55-year-old had begun to explore legal options to clear his name.
No comments:
Post a Comment