Long wait for safety, so parents drive change

BENGALURU: Already four years have passed since the CPP was first drafted. During this period many cases of child sexual abuse have been reported and, for now, it looks like more time will be taken to frame the new rules. When asked when the rules will be out, Sowjanya, Commissioner , Department of Public Instruction, “It will take some time as a number of departments are being consulted. I cannot speculate about such things”.

Anita Makahria is a parent who played an active part in the protest against an east Bengaluru school where a minor girl was raped in 2014. Her child was and is studying in the school, and parents like her pushed for many safety measures after the incident. Anita says that a safety framework for schools is a must.
“In my child’s school, we managed to foil a kidnapping attempt recently with vigilant parenting and because of safety measures that were pushed by us, parents. The government should also make sure that safety measures are in place for all schools,” she says. The incident at Ryan International School in Gurugram school, adds Anita,  “was a failure in every step of safety for students”.

CBSE schools too

Karnataka Education Act will be amended to make safety for children enforceable in schools. A penal clause will be added to make the noncompliance a ground for punishment. It also covers central board schools under the CBSE and ICSE. The CPP mentions safety rules only in state  schools. “We can enforce rules of safety with this,”says Sowjanya.