Raman Singh government calls for regular inspection of girls' hostels

Chhattisgarh government has directed for regular inspection of all residential schools and hostels for girls, in the view of cases of sexual exploitation of minor inmates coming to light from such places.

In a circular to district collectors, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand has said it is regrettable that even after constituting committees at district and development block level to conduct regular inspection of these institutions and monitor their working, incidents of molestation and assault were reported, an official here said.

It's clear that monitoring work of these institutions was not being done seriously, leading to repetition of such instances, he said.

The district collectors have been directed to take seriously the safety of girls' residential schools, hostels and residential places for working women, he said.

Dhand has ordered collectors to dispatch a report of monitoring and inspection of these institutions every month to the women and child development department, which has been made the nodal department in this connection. The district administration can also rope in local women groups and committees for inspection purpose.

Besides, women sarpanch, panch and elected women representatives should also be asked to conduct inspection from time to time, he said. He has also directed for recruitment of women employees in place of men in these institutions. For inspection of each institution, nodal officers have been nominated and their work will be reviewed regularly at the district level.

The CS also warned that reckless approach on the part of any official in such issues will not be tolerated. Notably, a case of alleged molestation of two minor tribal girls staying at an residential school hostel was reported in the Naxal-affected Narayanpur district early this month. The accused in the offence was the husband of the hostel superintendent.

In January last year, the case of 15 girls of a government run residential school at Jhaliyamari village of Kanker district allegedly sexually assaulted by a hostel guard and a school teacher had come to light.