AIDWA petitions Coimbatore District Collector, urging formation of complaint committees in schools to address rising sexual offenses against female students. The association highlights recent cases and calls for immediate action.
Coimbatore: The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has submitted a petition to the Coimbatore District Collector, demanding the establishment of complaint committees in educational institutions to address sexual offenses against female students.
Sudha, the Coimbatore District Secretary of AIDWA, stated in the petition that sexual offenses against female students are on the rise in both government and private educational institutions in Coimbatore district. She pointed out that even when affected students report issues to teachers and parents, the problems are often concealed due to concerns about the students' future and the schools' reputation.
The petition highlighted several recent cases to illustrate the gravity of the situation. It mentioned the sexual harassment case at Alandurai Government School, where a physical education teacher allegedly harassed a student for a year before action was taken. The AIDWA also cited the Chinmaya School case, where a sexual abuse incident came to light only after the student's death. Recently, a librarian at Delhi Public School in Vadavalli, Onappalayam area, was accused of sexually harassing a student, causing significant shock in the community.
Sudha emphasized that these incidents demonstrate a lack of awareness about the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act among teachers and educational institutions. The AIDWA has called for the immediate establishment of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) in all government, government-aided, and private schools in Coimbatore, in accordance with government guidelines.
Furthermore, the association has requested the formation of a district-level complaint committee to coordinate all these school-level committees. They believe this step is crucial for safeguarding the future well-being of female students and ensuring prompt action against sexual offenses in educational institutions.
Sudha, the Coimbatore District Secretary of AIDWA, stated in the petition that sexual offenses against female students are on the rise in both government and private educational institutions in Coimbatore district. She pointed out that even when affected students report issues to teachers and parents, the problems are often concealed due to concerns about the students' future and the schools' reputation.
The petition highlighted several recent cases to illustrate the gravity of the situation. It mentioned the sexual harassment case at Alandurai Government School, where a physical education teacher allegedly harassed a student for a year before action was taken. The AIDWA also cited the Chinmaya School case, where a sexual abuse incident came to light only after the student's death. Recently, a librarian at Delhi Public School in Vadavalli, Onappalayam area, was accused of sexually harassing a student, causing significant shock in the community.
Sudha emphasized that these incidents demonstrate a lack of awareness about the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act among teachers and educational institutions. The AIDWA has called for the immediate establishment of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) in all government, government-aided, and private schools in Coimbatore, in accordance with government guidelines.
Furthermore, the association has requested the formation of a district-level complaint committee to coordinate all these school-level committees. They believe this step is crucial for safeguarding the future well-being of female students and ensuring prompt action against sexual offenses in educational institutions.