In response to the harrowing sexual abuse case at a school in Badlapur, the Women and Child Welfare Department, alongside the Education Ministry, has submitted a detailed report to Maharashtra's Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar. The report, handed over on Monday, outlines the findings and recommendations following the incident and suggests new safety measures to protect students, particularly girls, in educational institutions.
Minister Kesarkar, addressing the severity of the situation, proposed the installation of panic buttons in all schools and hostels, alongside existing CCTV systems, to enhance the safety of female students. "A committee formed under the Mumbai region?s deputy director and Maharashtra Child Right Protection advisor Susuben Shah inquired all concerned officials. People who have been found negligent are named co-accused. The report will now be submitted to the Home Ministry," Kesarkar stated.
The recommendations in the report, generated after the Badlapur incident, are poised to be implemented across all schools in the state. Kesarkar emphasized, "Just like CCTVs in schools and hostels, panic buttons can also be installed. It is an advanced technology. These panic buttons don?t necessarily need to be in the classroom but should be placed in areas where women's safety is more at risk. Considering recent incidents, the victims were molested in the school toilet and the hostel. Panic buttons need to be installed by identifying the unsafe locations."
In addition to these safety measures, Kesarkar acknowledged the need for legislative updates. "Regarding the Shakti Act, there needs to be changes in the act. The present rules and the provisions in the central act did not match. We will consider the changes and introduce a new chapter to implement the Shakti Act," he noted.
Primary Accused in Badlapur Case Sent to Judicial Custody
Meanwhile, the primary accused in the Badlapur case, 23-year-old Akshay Shinde, has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by the Kalyan court. Shinde, employed as a school sweeper, was arrested on August 17 following massive public outcry over the sexual assault of two four-year-old girls at the school.
In response to the public demand for justice, the Maharashtra government has constituted a Special Investigative Team (SIT) led by IPS officer Aarti Singh to oversee the investigation. Renowned public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam will represent the case in court, which will be expedited through a fast-track judicial process.
