Bengaluru: Strangers are barred from entering school premises to protect children from sexual harassment and other incidents, but parents complained that over the last one month, at least two incidents of strangers “leading other’s children” have been reported in city schools.
In both incidents, children were being led by strangers. “As the incidents were reported within the campuses, it was sorted out. Now, a few schools have decided to improve security measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future,” said sources in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Tens of parents who spoke to Deccan Chronicle said that though schools are charging hefty amounts in the name of child safety, they are not providing foolproof security. “Only a few schools have made stickers and ID cards mandatory. Rest of the schools are allowing even strangers to pick up the children. As police complaints were not registered in these cases, they have not come to the notice of the public,” said a parent, whose child is studying at an elite school in West Bengaluru. “Many schools even allow duplicate ID cards. After a series of sexual assault cases targeting girl students last year, strict guidelines were issued to schools. But within weeks, these guidelines were forgotten and no one seems to be following them anymore,” he said.
But schools have a different point of view. The principal of a CBSE school said that though ID cards have been made mandatory for parents, they are giving them to maid servants to pick up their children. “In a few cases, confusion occurred because of the negligence of parents. As this issue is very sensitive, it cannot be generalised,” he said.
If any parent lodges a complaint, the department would take action, an officer from DPI said.
