There are 529 state-run and 556 aided tribal schools in Maharashtra which cater to 2.45 lakh tribal children, including nearly one lakh girls.
Taking cognisance of the Buldhana ashram shala rape case, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has urged the Devendra Fadnavis government to close all ashram shalas (tribal residential schools) that lack basic norms required to ensure the safety of girl students from sexual assault and exploitation.
"All tribal schools which cannot provide security to girl students must be compulsorily shut down. Allowing them to run and giving time for improvement will serve no purpose as girls will continue to be at risk till institutions comply with norms," the State's Women Commission told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday.
Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of the Commission, confirmed the development, saying, "We need to take stern action to safeguard the girls. Unless schools offer a safe and secure environment to girls, there is no point running them," Rahatkar told DNA. Rahatkar was also in Buldhana village on Saturday to meet the rape victims and inspect the school.
There are 529 state-run and 556 aided tribal schools in Maharashtra which cater to 2.45 lakh tribal children, including nearly one lakh girls. Almost half of them will face closure if the government accepts the panel's recommendations. Shifting a large number of students to other tribal schools would also be a daunting task.
Most tribal schools lack physical infrastructure, including boundary walls and women wardens. This ensures that girl students are at risk of sexual exploitation both by insiders and outsiders. This fact was highlighted in the Dr Subhash Salunke Committee report submitted to Maharahstra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao last month.
The committee was formed to probe the death of 1,077 tribal kids in ashram shalas over a decade. It highlighted the fact that sexual exploitation could have led to many deaths because the cause of death were either missing or vague in 67% of cases.
The commission has also sought immediate closure of the Buldhana village school. Over 250 students currently enrolled in the school may be shifted to nearby residential schools in the next five days, the panel has recommended. The government-aided institution is currently closed for Diwali and is expected to re-open on November 11.
"The Buldhana School is in pathetic condition. On paper, there are 104 girls but it neither has that much space nor infrastructure to provide safe and secure environment to that many girls. Closure is the only option," Rahatkar said. She is set to visit more Ashram schools.
Tribal Minister Vishnu Savara and Tribal Secretary Rajagopal Devara were unavailable for comment when contacted.
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