Prolonged Sexual Assault in Renowned Greater Noida School : How Safe Is Your Child Inside School Premises?

(25/10/2017) Greater Noida :

In a shocking revelation, a case of 6th standard school student being allegedly sexually abused for many years has come to light yesterday. The child of Nigerian nationality was admitted to Kaushalya World School, Greater Noida in 2012 and allegedly being abused by the prime accused Ashok Mishra from last 2-3 years. The 11 year old victim remained silent all these years as he was allegedly being threatened with dire consequences by the accused.

On Tuesday the child finally revealed the incidents after being confronted by his mother. As per the parents, the child has suffered rapid fall in educational performance in recent times and there was a visible change in his behavior.

Greater Noida police has registered a case in this regard under IPC section 377 and POCSO. The accused has been arrested and the police is investigating the case. However the staggering question that this incident raises is about safety of our children inside the school premises?

Schools and Safety: Why Increased Scrutiny Proving Futile?

Schools are considered second home of every student. Every student spends about half their day inside for 5-6 days a week in school premises. A child is admitted to school from 3-4 years of age and it’s the place where he finally emerges out as a full grown adult after 13-14 years.

School education is indispensible and so is child’s safety. The ghastly murder of Pradyuman in Ryan International or this alleged sodomy of another male student in Greater Noida School points out the flaws that have erupted in famed, high-tech educational institutes of modern times.

The fact that certain school staff can be in a powerful position to threaten the students and there is a basic dearth of sexual education in Indian kids often leads to such harassment of students. While sometimes cases come to light after a very long period or go completely unreported.

Inadequate Measures Prolong Safety Risks

CBSE has well drafted guidelines for safety and security of students within school premises. However not many school follow it in entirety.

In Kaushalya World School itself, it was found that while complete floor in which the student had his classroom was under CCTV surveillance, the corridor leading to the boy’s washroom was a black spot. The room just next to boy’s washroom is the staff room. The accused being a non-teaching staff had access to this staff room or not isn’t clear.

However such loopholes in security system often provide safe haven to anti-social elements who take advantage of these facts to fulfill their evil agendas.

Preventive Measures for Parents

Schooling is a basic need for every child and there cannot be a better alternative to it. Nevertheless such increasing instances of crime against children force us to rethink our notions of safe and secure school environment.

Thus it becomes primary responsibility of every parent to stay vigilant and alert to any kind of behavioral changes in their wards. It is very important to have regular frank and honest discussions with the kids. The student must be made aware of good and bad touch at a very early age.

Parents must not hesitate in providing required sexual education to the kids at tender age. A well informed kid can raise alarm at any suspicion.

For everything else we have to still rely on authorities, school administrations and officials.