PANAJI
Taking serious cognisance of a student’s molestation by her PE teacher, the child rights body has sought action against the school management for failing to report the matter to the authorities concerned.
In his letter to Mardol police on Wednesday, the Chairperson of the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR), Peter Borges, cited the violation of Section 19 of the POCSO Act which mandates reporting of sexual offenses to the Special Juvenile Police Unit or the local police, as well as section 21 providing penal provisions for failing to report the offense.
“Creating a conducive environment where students are safe and enabled to report sexual misconduct by any member of the school body is very important,” it said.
The Commission has sought to investigate the FIR as well as action against the school management and to file a compliance report within a week.
In a separate communiqué to the Education Department, the Chairperson expressed concern about the alarming rise in sexual assaults on children within the premises of schools.
The Commission, while giving additional recommendations to the department for the safety of the students and to tackle any such incidents in the future, has sought a compliance report within 30 days.
