A huge protest was going on in Badlapur, Maharashtra, resulting in the suspension of Internet services. Two kindergarten girls are alleged to have been sexually harassed, causing the protest. 72 people were arrested for causing disturbances during the protest.

17 city police personnel and eight railway cops were injured. Protesters threw stones at the railway station and at other areas. 

What is the Reason Behind Protest? 

A male attendant, 23, in the school allegedly sexually abused two girls, aged 3 and 4 yeas in the school washroom. The school didn’t appoint a female attendant for the female restrooms.

Parents got to know about this incident when the victim complained about the pain  in her private parts. Later when they told their daughter’s friend’s parents, they told them their daughter is also scared to attend the school. 

Protesters vandalized the school where the incident occurred. They also blocked railway tracks, halting train services on the Kalyan-Karjat section of Central Railway.  

Minimum 10 mail-express trains, including Solapur-CSMT Vande Bharat Express, were diverted via Karjat-Panvel-Thane stations, and local train services between Ambernath and Karjat stations were suspended from 10:10 am. 

Officials Saying 

Important instructions have been issued by Cabinet Minister and Guardian Minister regarding safety of women and children in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He stated in a letter that all the necessary measures should be taken for the safety of women and female students in various schools and colleges in the Mumbai.  

Education is a human’s basic need. If we cannot send our children to educational institutes without worrying about them, and students are not safe in schools then it is a huge worrying trend..  

It is really deplorable to harass children sexually. But this is not it, there are also many other cases like that where children being sexually harassed.  

Recently a school teacher in Maharashtra was arrested for showing pornography to students. Further investigation revealed that that the teacher had been doing so for the last 4 months and also touching them inappropriately.  

A 12-year-old girl was being harassed and sent obscene messages by a 42-year-old teacher, leading to his arrest.

Most schools are now making students aware of bad touch and good touch. But as a society we should start making our children specially girls take self-defense classes. So, they can protect themselves from these atrocious acts. 

Measures for safety of girls 

The children can be supervised at school and given safe platforms for self-expression to ensure safety. Promote the free interaction of children allowing the kids to bring out their experiences or even express their feelings without any restrictions. Sensitize the community on issues of child abuse, provide support services to abused children and act for enhancement of legal measures and policies for children.  

Lastly, educate parents and ensure their participation in training to help them learn how to support their children educationally and otherwise. Altogether, all these procedures help to prevent the situation and make the world safer and more protective for the young girls.