In a shocking incident a 14-year-old minor girl was allegedly molested by the Physical Education (PE) teacher while she was answering an examination in a school in Ponda. Her trauma got worse as the school authorities instead of taking any action against the teacher against whom the victim complained, forced her and her sister to leave school, making the school complicit in covering up the purported criminal action of the teacher. A thorough investigation needs to be carried out in the incident and the culprit punished under the purview of the law. Such incidents should not take place in schools in future. It is against the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” scheme of the government. In instances of breach of safety of a child within the school premises, on school transport or any engagement of the school staff with the students, the schools, institutions and individuals shall be held accountable. National Commission for Protection of Childs Rights (NCPCR) calls for setting up of a grievance committee for child sexual abuse in all schools. Schools must also create records of the complaints made and action taken against each complaint.
