The two incidents, one in Margao and the second in Mapusa, which occurred right outside the school premises have been an eye-opener for parents, school managements, government, police department and society as a whole, that Goa’s law and order situation is changing. As the State has been witnessing growing crime rate, the last nightmare for a parent would be to worried of their children’s safety throughout the day, even when they are in school.
After the first incident which surfaced on social media, the Police Department was quick to react that public should steer clear of spreading rumours as instances came to light of homeless and mentally-ill being beaten-up as an ego satisfying bravado act by self styled social-policing individuals.
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The Mapusa school incident though led to alarm bells across Goa as there was evidence of an attempt to kidnap and if not for the bravery of the young girl and presence of mind, she was saved from being whisked away by a woman. Since, parents have been demanding security in and around the school premises. However, the issue of safety and security at school campuses has turned into a peek-a-boo for the government.
In January 2013, in a horrendous incident, a 7-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in the primary school toilet in Vasco and had led to outcry about children’s safety at educational institutions. Due to lack of security measures, the unknown accused person was never traced and after a trial of four-and-half years, the 3 staffers of the primary school including the headmistress were let free as no evidence could point at their involvement in the crime.
Nearly a decade later, the safety and security at schools has not improved even after the hue-and-cry time and again.
In the current situation too, beyond the advisory issued by the Police Department to general public and by the Education Department to schools to take preventive measures, the government has stood aloof like a silent spectator. Since a large section of students travel to and fro school by local transportation, just issuing dos and don’ts does not solve the problem.
While on one hand the security parameters at the school need to be enhanced, on the other hand the police vigil across the spaces in respective jurisdictions needs to be upbeat. In reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on March 24, 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs had informed the Parliament that as per data available on January 1, 2020 Goa has a ratio of 511.78 police personnel per lakh population against the sanctioned 659.16 per lakh population.
Government should take up the responsibility of providing security at school premises and rope in the services of the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation. This alone would provide nearly 3,000 Goans with employment. And simultaneously government should fast track the recruitment of personnel into State police force ensuring that it does not encounter a stumbling block of scam and be stained by corruption.
In the age of technology, installation of CCTV cameras is akin to the adage, ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. It’s of age and therefore government should seriously consider installing cameras at all academic institutions and not wait for the managements to write applications.
Children should not have to live in fear. Communities can thrive and societies can progress only when children are able to explore their full potential and participate in the making of their surroundings. This problem of safety and security should be dealt with an iron fist which is the primary responsibility of a democratic and welfare State.
