Coimbatore: Contact tollfree helpline number 14417, says Education Minister:
Offering condolences to the parents of the private school student, who died by suicide after being sexually harassed by a teacher, school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Sunday urged students to call helpline 14417 to report harassment. “A mother has lost her daughter. As a parent of a girl child, I can relate with the pain of the victim’s mother,” the minister said after meeting the parents at their residence.
He was accompanied by electricity minister Senthil Balaji. The aggrieved parents requested the minister to take steps to ensure such incidents don’t reoccur. “The government set up toll-free helpline 14417 following a similar incident. It is manned by well-trained staff. Students should feel free to share their grievances when they don’t find it comfortable sharing them with parents, teachers or friends,” Poyyamozhi said.
Such incidents deal a huge blow to the initiatives to encourage more girl children to get educated, the minister said. “Private school students and teachers will be taught about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Presently, the training is offered in government schools.”
“There was no delay in acting against the perpetrator. The accused was booked under Pocso Act within 24 hours of the death of the victim and subsequently arrested. Protestors demanded the arrest of the principal, who had failed to act against the accused. The principal has been arrested and booked under Pocso. Police are examining the letter left behind by the victim,” he added.
Students should not tolerate any kind of harassment anymore. Parents and teachers should create awareness about the helpline number among Children and make them confident to contact the government helpline number 14417.
Meena
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