Parents cry hoarse over education department's 'leniency'

BHOPAL: Officials at education department came to know about the child sexual abuse earlier due to a complaint made by community members with district project coordinator (DPC) SS Rathore on December 1. But instead of insisting for filing of a police case based on complaint of sexual offence, they ordered departmental inquiry.
Parents have said, "To register case under Section 21 (1, 2) of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offence Act (POCSO), it is mandatory to inform police when there is any incidence of sexual assault on children.This is something the institution should have done on priority. Not doing it is a punishable offence and authorities need to be held accountable under POCSO Act."
"This shows how lenient our officials are towards problems of children," said Shivani Taneja from an NGO, Muskaan, and parents of children.
However, when contacted, Dipti Gaur Mukharjee, principal secretary, school education, said, "Conduct like this by warden in government hostel is atrocious and intolerable. He and other officiers will not be spared at any cost. I will discuss the matter with officials and get the detailed report at the earliest." A departmental inquiry has been marked by district education department under guidance of Rathore and they have been asked to present a report in a week. But the children have been shifted to a new place on Friday.
Police official Sudhir Arjaria said Ajay Sharma came with an audio recording alleging that former warden hatched a conspiracy against him.
"If th e case has been reported and children have highlighted, it should be looked into sensitively," said child rights activist Prashant Dubey while talking to TOI. If anyone is found guilty, action should be taken.