Wrong data on eve-teasing in colleges: Fresh figures sought

Mentioning that almost a dozen reminders had been sent to colleges asking for compliance since January last year, Vitthal More, joint director (higher education) asked regional directorates to prevail upon errant educational institutions for putting in place the desired measures to prevent eve-teasing.

A Newsline report published on November 12 highlighted how the Pune-based Directorate of Higher Education had “shown” almost 95 per cent compliance by the 1,200-odd aided and government institutes of higher learning in preventing eve-teasing though no such steps have been taken by several institutions.

More told Newsline on Tuesday that fresh information had been sought from colleges about measures against eve-teasing to verify the database. “The directorate and regional directorates have jurisdiction over a large number of colleges, and ensuring compliance in certain matters becomes difficult,” he said.

More, who was in Nagpur for the Winter Session said information about measures to prevent eve-teasing would be submitted to the House once the query comes up.

As per laid norms, colleges should put up boards on campuses warning against eve-teasing and displaying numbers of the nearest police station. The figures submitted to the government were allegedly inflated. The ground reality contradicts education department database.

The state-appointed panel led by retired judge of the high court, Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, had recommended a grievance redressal forum for female students in education institutions among a slew of measures to curb crime against women. In its third interim report to the Maharashtra government, it recommended that those who are in charge of educational institutions must take steps as they deem fit to prevent eve-teasing within their precincts and on any complaint being made, must pass on the information to the nearest police station or the women help centre.