Rajasthan: Collaborative Efforts Lead to Arrest of Youths Accused of Molesting Students at Udaipur School

Udaipur- In a heartening development, the collaborative efforts of educators and students have resulted in the arrest of two youths accused of molesting and harassing students at a government school in Udaipur.

The timely intervention of educators, coupled with the courage of students to speak out against perpetrators, has resulted in bringing the culprits to justice.

Located near the Mahatma Gandhi Government School at Purohiton-ki Madri, the presence of antisocial drug addicts who often made obscene gestures towards passing girls had instilled fear and discomfort among the children.

However, recent efforts to educate students about their rights and safety, particularly regarding the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, have proven to be instrumental in addressing such incidents.

During a training session, Dr. Shailendra Pandya, a child rights expert and former member of the Rajasthan Child Commission, enlightened the attendees about the seriousness of sexual violence against minors under the POCSO Act. Students were encouraged to learn about safe touch and were empowered to express their concerns without fear.

Principal Sapna Bagri informed the media that the training session proved helpful as we emphasized the importance of open communication between educators and students. This enabled the children to voice their fears and apprehensions. Few of the students reported about the youths who passed lewd comments and made obscene gestures even exposing their private parts when girls passed by.

Upon receiving reports of the incidents, the school promptly alerted the police authorities. However, in the absence of immediate action, they sought assistance from Dr. Shailendra Pandya.

Responding swiftly to the situation, the Rajasthan Child Advocacy Group (R-KEG), along with Gayatri Seva Sansthan and Child Help Line, collaborated with the local police authorities.

As a result, Lokesh, son of Bherulal Gameti, and Khemraj, son of Dalla Gameti, residents of Pancholi Debari of Bhoyo, were apprehended with the joint efforts of the school and R-KEG.

Expressing her concerns, Bagri stated, "The security of our girl students is becoming an increasing concern with the rise in sexual assaults against women. Parents are so apprehensive that they fear sending their girls to school." She continued, "We take care of them from 10 am to 4 pm, but what about their security after that? Administration has to take stringent steps." Bagri emphasized, "Today, we caught the culprits with the help of the RKeg team. Such accused should be punished under POCSO; otherwise, they would get away easily."

Speaking with The Mooknayak, Dr. Pandya emphasized the gravity of sexual offenses against minors since 2012.

He underscored that any form of sexual violence, including rape, against individuals below 18 years of age is deemed a severe offense under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO Act).

Dr. Pandya elucidated that actions such as making inappropriate gestures, engaging in inappropriate physical contact, molesting, making lewd comments, or distributing pornography to minors are all classified as serious crimes under this legislation.

Furthermore, he emphasized the legal obligation to promptly report any such incidents for appropriate action, stressing the imperative of safeguarding the rights and well-being of children in our society.

Incidents reported in the recent past

In Boondi, a 7th-grade student found herself a victim of molestation by her teacher, a betrayal of trust that came to light on February 26, 2023. The young girl, refusing to be silenced, confided in a friend who promptly informed her parents. The teacher faced suspension, and legal proceedings were initiated.

In Dungarpur district's Jhakol village, a 12-year-old girl endured unspeakable torment at the hands of her teacher in a government school. Subjected to repeated acts of rape, she lived in fear and silence as the perpetrator exploited her vulnerability.

However, a turning point came when the girl participated in a 'Good Touch-Bad Touch' session. Empowered by the knowledge gained, she bravely broke her silence and reported the heinous acts to her parents. Swift action was taken, and a case was lodged, leading to the teacher's incarceration.

In a proactive move to address the alarming rise in incidents of sexual misconduct involving children, the Department of School Education in Rajasthan has introduced the "Safe Schools and Safe Rajasthan Campaign." The campaign is designed to impart awareness about the concept of "Good Touch and Bad Touch" among students across the state. So far over 65 thousand school children in approximately 3800 government schools have been trained to differentiate between the good and bad touch by anyone from the opposite sex including strangers, teachers, relatives or kin at home.

Under the specially designed training module, children are taught the 'No-Go-Tell' principle of 'No-Go-Tell' by shouting 'No' in a bad touch situation and carefully running away from the place or person and telling an elder or the person they trust the most without any fear or panic about it