Mangaluru: In the wake of recurring incidents of sexual assault on minor girls in schools, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Sunday that a taskforce would be set up within two days to ensure safety of children in schools.
Speaking to the reporters on his arrival at the Mangalore International Airport, He said, “The task force will draw officials from the police, education, women and child welfare and information departments.
“It will hold regular meetings with the parents and school managements, create awareness, verify whether the schools are following guidelines and try to stop incidents of sexual harassment in government and private schools,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also stressed that school managements should verify the background of the employees before appointment. “In all the three cases of sexual assault in private schools, the accused are school employees. The government finds it difficult to stop such incidents and managements should verify the background and mental status of the employees before appointing them,” he said.
An expert committee under former MLC M.C. Nanaiah has been asked to give recommendation to stop such atrocities against women. Imposing the Goonda Act would ensure that accused in such cases do not get bail.
Law and order under control
Denying charges of lawlessness in the state, he said, “The law and order is under perfect control in Karnataka. It is true that there were some stray incidents, but the government has taken strict action against those involved,” he said.
He also attacked the BJP for demanding the resignation of Home Minister K.J. George. “Law and order was at its worst when the BJP was in power. Did anyone resign then? What moral right do they have to demand the resignation of Home Minister,” he asked.
On Yettinahole river diversion project, Siddaramaiah promised to convene a meeting to allay apprehensions about the project at the earliest. “The river diversion project has been misunderstood”.
Referring to the commissioner’s post lying vacant in the Manglaore City corporation, Chief Minister admitted that the government was responsible for the delay. The post will be filled soon, he said.
State minister B Ramanath Rai, UT Khader, Abayachandra Jain, MLC Ivan D’ Souza, MLA Moideen Bhava, Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim, Mayor Mahabal Marla, Deputy Mayor Kavitha, ZP CEO Tulasi Maddineni, Police Commissioner R Hithendra, SP Dr Sharanappa and others were present on this occasion.
