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Haryana Minister of School Education, Sh. Kanwar Pal emphasized the government's grave concern regarding the sexual harassment incident involving the Principal of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Uchana Mandi (Jind).
In a prompt response, the government suspended the accused on October 27, 2023, upon receiving the allegations. Subsequently, based on prima facie evidence, the individual was terminated from service on December 11, 2023.
Sh. Kanwar Pal was replying to a calling attention motion during Vidhan Sabha Session here today.
Following a preliminary investigation, the government transferred 17 staff members from the Uchana Mandi school to other schools, reaffirming its dedication to student safety, particularly for girls. This commitment extends to comprehensive training and self-defense programs implemented across government schools. Since 2021-22, over 2,25,000 girls in classes 6th to 12th have undergone self-defense training, with a target of 1,25,000 for 2023-24, of which 87,000 are already trained. These initiatives aim to empower girls, enabling them to protect themselves and mitigate the risk of sexual harassment in schools, he added.
To further foster a safe environment, the government and Haryana Women and Child Development Department are collaborating on a teacher sensitization program focused on preventing sexual harassment. This program will include training on POCSO and POSH Acts for principals, headmasters, and fundamental headmasters throughout December and January, he added.
He conveyed that in an affidavit submitted to the Hon'ble High Court detailed the status of basic facilities in government schools, there is a need to provide drinking water facilities in 131 schools, electricity in 236 schools, boys' toilets in 1047 schools, and girls' toilets in 538 schools. To meet the requirement, an amount of Rs. 49.00 crore was released by the School Education Department on priority basis to address the deficiencies observed in respect of basic facilities in all the schools from time to time and 131 basic facilities like drinking water in schools, boys' toilets in 1047 schools, girls' toilets in 538 schools and electricity connections in 236 schools have been provided.
Sh Kanwarpal said that the government is committed to providing necessary infrastructure in all government schools and is making continuous efforts for the same. The School Education Department has received a total of Rs 580 crore as budget including a supplementary budget of Rs 300 crore from the Finance Department for the year 2023-24. Out of this available budget, the department has so far issued approvals worth Rs 317 crore and the process of issuing approvals for the remaining amount is going on soon. Against the requirement of total 8240 additional class rooms, 5630 other rooms and 321 boundary walls, 4506 components (additional class rooms, other rooms and boundary walls) have been approved. Of these, 663 components have been completed, 1604 components are in progress and 2239 components are in the process of tendering. Around 1000 components are likely to be approved in the current financial year. The government will try to fulfill the requirements as soon as possible. In the last 10 years 2012-13 to 2022-23, an amount of Rs 118312.83 crore (revised budget) was allocated against the estimated budget of Rs 129203.13 crore including centrally sponsored schemes. A total of Rs 107636.84 crore was utilized by the School Education Department during the said period. During these years, out of the revised budget of Rs 118312.83 crore, Rs 10675.99 crore could not be utilized. This non-utilisation was due to various saving measures, non-consumption of salary component etc.
He also informed the House that at present 26303 posts of teachers are vacant in government schools of the state. The government is committed to filling the vacant posts as soon as possible. Demand letter for 12101 posts of PGT and TGT for regular appointment has already been sent to recruitment agencies and to meet the shortage of teachers, request has also been made to Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam to fill 8446 vacant posts of teachers on contract basis. The letter has been sent. The vacant posts to be filled on promotion basis will also soon be filled by promotion of teachers. Thus, the government is taking all necessary steps to provide teachers in every government school.
