Mangalore : Following the death of Nirbhaya, the state government is mulling a slew of measures to safeguard women students and employees in higher education institutions. The issue would be discussed at a meeting of vice-chancellors soon, said higher education minister C T Ravi. The meeting would be held either on December 31 or January 5, he said.
The proposals to feature in the meeting include setting up of separate cells in each educational institution to deal with complaints of sexual harassment. These cells will be headed by a senior woman faculty and will include the principal, a girl student representative and a woman member from the college development committee. The cell will take all necessary steps to protect the identity of the whistleblower.
Announcing the proposals, Ravi said those not willing to come in person before the cell, must be given the option of dropping their complaint in a box. “The cell should look into these complaints on a weekly basis and involve the police straightaway if the charges are serious,” he said.
Educational institutions must also arrange for counselling of the complainant. The institutions must probe if the mode of transport used by students and employees is safe. Security on college campuses and girls hostel must be top priority for managements, said Ravi. Times of India