‘File harassment report monthly or face action’

Shimla: As complaints of girl students being molested in the schools and involvement of teachers in such incidents is being reported time to time, the education department has now issued a reminder to all the educational institutions of Himachal Pradesh on formation of sexual harassment committees.
The department also directed the institutions to ensure that these committees send information about such cases to the directorate of education on the fifth day of every month.
At present, such information is not being provided by the schools on a monthly basis. Schools have been warned of action in case they fail to comply with the directions.
Director, higher education, Amarjeet K Sharma in a recent communication reminded the college principals and deputy directors of the office order dated May 22, 2018 with regard to complaints of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and molestation in educational institutions.
He said through the 2018 order, all the heads of institutions were directed to send a monthly report on the details of complaints received and cases registered under the POCSO Act by the fifth day of every month. However, the said information is not being provided on a monthly basis, Sharma pointed out.
He directed the officials concerned to constitute sexual harassment committees in every institute and lodge an FIR in related cases at the earliest. Sharma also warned of action against those failing to submit the report by the fifth day of every month.
In May 2018, all the heads of the institutions in Himachal Pradesh were directed to ensure that sexual harassment committee in each institute works actively as per the orders conveyed by the directorate of education from time to time.
Heads of the institutions were also directed to send a monthly report on the details of complaints of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, molestation and rape received and action taken on such complaints.
In the last few days, several cases of molestation of girl students have come to light in Himachal schools. In June alone, three such cases have been reported.
A shopkeeper in the Chopal area of Shimla district was apprehended by the police under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 for allegedly molesting 11 minor schoolgirls who visited his shop to purchase stationary or other items.