The Maharashtra state government issued a government resolution after the Badlapur tragedy, requiring the installation of CCTV equipment in all school buildings within a month.
Cabinet Minister and Mumbai Suburban District’s Guardian Minister, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, has taken a decisive step to improve the safety of women and children. The minister has instructed the district collector to implement comprehensive safety measures in all of the district’s schools and colleges to reduce the number of incidents of abuse against women and children.
Minister Lodha made this announcement during a program at the Mumbai Suburban District Collectorate in Bandra. The initiative is part of a larger plan to empower women and guarantee their safety in educational institutions.
The minister’s directions contain several important measures:
1. Installing CCTV cameras all over the school, except the restrooms, and having beat marshals or mobile police teams do routine maintenance checks.
2. Constant monitoring of girls’ bathrooms by female staff members stationed outside.
3. Assignment of female sanitation workers to clean facilities used by underage girls and 10th-grade pupils.
4. Demanding the presence of female employees on all vans, taxis, and buses used to transport students.
5. All sanitation employees working in schools must undergo mandatory police verification.
6. Collaboration with local NGOs to provide self-defense training for female students.
7. Encouragement for students to report issues via the 1098 helpline number, with schools required to display posters with this information.
8. Establishment of a separate committee of female parents in schools, with monthly meetings to discuss issues related to female students.
9. Display posters in schools and colleges, informing women and girls about the 181 helpline for emergencies.
By taking proactive steps to address women’s and children’s safety concerns, educational institutions are becoming safer places for everyone. The Maharashtra state government issued a government resolution after the Badlapur tragedy, requiring the installation of CCTV equipment in all school buildings within a month. If schools don’t comply, the government will take enforcement measures. Additionally, principals have been told to check the film three times a week and take appropriate action if they find anything offensive.
Additionally, the hiring of school employees is subject to stringent state laws that require background checks on sweepers, peons, bus drivers, and security guards, among other precautions. In addition, schools must establish a student security council, keep a complaint box open, and notify the government of any occurrences within a day.
