To raise the issue of children's safety in school premises, Andheri residents on Sunday held a protest march at the Lokhandwala Backroad. Over 250 parents from Lokhandwala, Oshiwara and neighbouring areas joined the rally.
Following a case where a peon at a school in Malad East was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl in the school's toilet, Andheri residents started an online petition on change.org. The petition had received more than 1,500 signatures so far.
Parents said there was a need to forward and raise a voice against the increasing instances of questionable security of children in schools.
Founder of Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) Dhaval Shah, who started the online petition, said, "We have around 12 schools in the neighbourhood. We will be meeting the school authorities one by one to discuss safety issues. Since the last few years, we have been hearing about many cases of security lapses in schools. Other schools should learn from such incidents and come up with better security."
Another LOCA member, Surjeet Singh Dadiala said, "We need the schools to have a set of norms regarding the security. Schools should be held accountable rather than the authority covering up the issue. The government should come up with rules and regulations that need to be audited regularly. A memorandum will be submitted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding new regulations for schools in terms of security measures."
On August 9, the Dindoshi police arrested a peon at an ICSE school in Malad East for allegedly sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl in the school's toilet on four consecutive days since August 1. The incident sparked major protests by parents in Malad.
ON THE AGENDA
- The residents started the online petition on August 13. Over 1,500 citizens have signed the online petition. They are calling for more signatures
- The residents plan to meet Education Minister Vinod Tawade or CM Devendra Fadnavis and raise their concerns
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