MARGAO: Bailancho Ekvott (BE) has condemned the recent incidents of sexual violence against female students by their teachers and called for systemic changes to tackle these issues, to prevent such incidents in the future.
Expressing shock that there were so many such incidents occurring, BE Convenor Auda Viegas referred to recent cases that took place in Mapusa, South Goa and Goa University.
In addition to the action that has been initiated by the Police, Viegas called on management of such educational institutes to take stricter and quicker action against such culprits.
She further added the teachers found responsible should be immediately terminated from service or asked to resign.
Viegas also felt there needs to be better scrutiny and monitoring in place to ensure that only those teachers who are ‘fit for their duty to educate’ are working in such educational institutes so that those who are capable of committing such crimes are removed from these institutes.
She added that in such cases, it does not matter what type of jobs they have, the checks should be put in place.
Viegas’ comments were echoed by other NGOs who have also demanded that a policy should be created and followed as to how managements of such educational institutes should handle such cases, right from how to provide the necessary care for the victim and taking action against those found responsible for the crime. The fact that schools have ignored repeated complaints of abuse and harassment from students is apalling, say activists.
There have also been calls for holding programmes to sensitise all stakeholders, including parents and the authorities who pursue the case legally so that a strong deterrent is set.
