Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that the State Government has taken stringent measures to check atrocities on girl students in schools and colleges and institutions are responsible for safety of children till they leave the school premises.
“Be it Government or private school, the institution is responsible for safety of children till they leave the school premises.” The Government has directed schools to set up children safety committees to prevent such incidents,” the Chief Minister said.
Unfurling the tricolour on the 68 Independence Day at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Ground here, the Chief Minister said all school managements have been told to ensure proper antecedents of both non-teaching and teaching staff before recruiting them for the service.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi “the day, a woman can walk freely at midnight on the roads, that day we can say that India has achieved independence”, Mr Siddaramaiah said “Our Government is committed to work in this direction and build Karnataka as a prosperous State, which is free from hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease and fear.”
Stating that the Goonda Act has been amended to enable arrest of those who perpetrate crimes such as rape, Mr Siddaramaiah said special women treatment units would be set up in all 30 district hospitals and five hospitals in Bangalore City to provide treatment, legal assistance and financial aid to women, who became target of atrocities.
“A children’s fund of Rs 25 lakh will be created to provide emergency relief to children who become target of such atrocities,” he said.
An expert committee headed by former minister M. C. Nanaiah, which was constituted to study the existing laws related to atrocities related to women and children, was expected to submit its report to the Government within three months, the Chief Minister said.
Since most of the atrocities have been committed by friends, relatives and persons known to victims, the Chief Minister said “such cases cannot be controlled merely by the government or by enforcing stricter laws.” There was a need for society to join hands with the Government to protect the dignity of women.” (EOM)
(The Hindu)
