By Sandeep Mishra
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 4: The state government has issued strict guidelines to ensure the safety and security of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students at institutions across the state. The move follows repeated instances of sexual abuse.
The guidelines mandate that heads of institutions shall ensure that staff members are oriented to understand the basic characteristics of sexual abuse. The staff members are to remain vigilant and convey information about such misdeeds by any person to authorities immediately. The hostel authority and Auxiliary Nurses and Mid-Wives will ensure quick medical care to victims of sexual offences.
There will be zero tolerance for sexual offences against students by teaching and non-teaching staff. Students shall not be asked to go to staff quarters or residences of staff for any reason. Moreover, male staff members are not allowed to enter girls’ hostels unless accompanied by the assistant hostel superintendent or matron.
Heads of institutions are to conduct weekly review meetings on the security and safety concerns of students with other staff members.
The guidelines declare that students shall not maintain undesirable relationships with teaching or non-teaching staff.
All students should also respect their fellow students. Students are also barred from keeping intoxicants with them in the institutions. Besides, male students are not allowed to enter girls’ hostels.
Students experiencing sexual abuse or having information of sexual abuse to fellow students shall immediately report it to the authorities.
The amended guidelines also provide scope of interaction between staff and students, including discussions regarding safety, age-appropriate information, knowledge on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and forming a group to become peer leaders.
The guidelines suggest that staff members at girls’ hostels must be females and that heads of institutions assess the criminal history of staff members. There should be adequate lighting facilities at hostels, with the entrances and exits being secured. The guidelines also suggest that complaint boxes should be put up at all hostels.
Besides, girl students shall not be allowed to go out alone and permission should be got from guardians for the child to participate in field trips and related activities.
Registers should also be maintained at the gates to track all visitors.
