NSUI takes up the cudgels for women’s safety on GU campus

Special Correspondent

Panaji

The National Students Union of India Goa along with the students of Goa University (GU) on Monday staged a protest against the university administration demanding installation of CCTV cameras, deputing of professional security guards from the Goa Human Resources Development Corporation and a functional Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) to redress the sexual harassment faced by the women students on the university campus.

During the protest, NSUI Goa president Naushad Chowdhari said that there is complete collapse of administration of GU, and it has failed to address the women students’ issue which they are facing for several months.

It may be recalled that there were several sexual harassment incidents which took place in recent past at the GU campus.

“We NSUI Goa are very much concerned about the safety of our students studying in Goa University,” Chowdhari said, adding that many students have faced this issue on the campus and few have even complained to the concerned authorities like Internal Complaint Committee (ICC), the Registrar and the Vice-Chancellor.

“But unfortunately students didn’t get any positive and proactive response by the authorities regarding the same, and in fact, the Registrar of Goa University responded by saying that girls should walk in groups and not alone, as there is no enough budget to install cameras all over campus,” he informed, pointing out, “And even mentioned about the dress code to the girls.”

“Education Minister Pramod Sawant and directorate of higher education should intervene into this matter and provide all the necessary amenities which are required to keep our campus safe and happening,” the NSUI, Goa chief said, demanding that the Internal committee should utilise its powers as per the Constitutional Act and shouldn’t be under pressure of the administration, the entire GU campus should be installed with high-quality functional CCTV cameras which its campus is lacking till date, and the Goa University should recruit professional security guards from the GHRDC.