Strict guidelines now for security of girl students in Odisha hostels

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sept 29:

With scores of instances of mental and sexual torture of girl students in residential schools and sevashrams, especially in the tribal areas, the Odisha government has framed strict guidelines to ensure their security.

As per the guidelines issued by the SC and ST Development department, there would be a lady superintendent in each residential shool and sevashram, who would stay inside these premises during the night.

Apart from this, the posts of cook and attendant would be exclusively reserved for women.

Only the senior government officials in the rank of deputy secretary and above or any officials allowed by the concerned district collector would be allowed to enter into these premises and that also during the school hours.

Besides, the magistrate in charge of law and order, a senior health official and officials of the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) would be allowed to go inside these hostels and sevashrams to oversee the work.

However, these aforesaid officials have to furnish detailed information regarding the the cause of their visits in the concerned register at these institutions.

The department, in a letter to all the district collectors, has asked them to appoint a lady assistant superintendents in these residential schools and sevashrams by September 30.

The collectors have been asked to appoint the lady assistant superintendents in residential schools and sevashrams where there are no lady superitendents by making alternative arrangements during the period.

The process of appointment of all women staff in these institutions would be completed by October 15.

The guidelines have also made it clear that no girls would be allowed to leave their hostels before sunrise and after sunset.

If any girl student leaves the hostel on account of an emergency, the concerned superintendents of the hostel would maintain a detailed record of the reason, time of exit and return etc of the concerned inmate.

The guidelines have also specified that the contractors and the labourers entrusted with the construction, repair or renovation of these hostels would be allowed to enter during day time only.

Above all, in case of entry of any male member in these hostels, he would be accompanied by two lady teachers and other staff of these hostels.