New Delhi, May 10 (Bureau) The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday issued summons to the Commissioners of three MCDs seeking status of safety and security of students in the schools after two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted in a corporation-run school in Northeast Delhi’s Bhajanpura area last month. Taking action on the information submitted by the East MCD after it had issued a notice to the Commissioner of East MCD after the incident surfaced, the Commission has asked for complete details of schools being run by each of the MCD, a statement said here.
The DCW said it also sought information of security guards present in the school in day time along with the details of steps taken to appoint security guards in all schools at the earliest, it added. It has also asked to provide details of installation of CCTV cameras and condition of boundary wall of the schools besides the mechanism setup by the MCDs to deal with complaints of sexual assault/harassment inside schools. Meanwhile, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said, “A school is a second home for a child. Children should feel most safe in their schools which are supposed to provide holistic learning. However, the recently reported incident of sexual assault with girls in an MCD school has raised serious questions over safety and security of the children especially girls inside these schools.” She further said, “The information provided by East MCD shows the dismal condition of safety and security of students as none of the schools have a security guard. This is unacceptable and the Commission has instituted an inquiry in this regard.” Urgent steps must be taken to make these schools safe for children, Maliwal said.