Delhi schools no-go areas for hawkers

Mangolpuri sexual assault prompts move.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has given orders to remove hawkers from near municipal schools in a move aimed at preventing a repeat of the sexual assault of a schoolgirl in Mangolpuri.

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No hawker will now be allowed within half a kilometre of a school.

Earlier this month, a young girl had alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a man on her school’s premises. Reports of the incident had sparked violent protests in the west Delhi locality.

“The principals of primary schools will have to ensure that no hawkers roam around near the school. They have been asked to take help from the police in case the hawkers do not comply,” said Rekha Gupta, chairman of the civic agency’s education committee.

She added that since the corporation already provides midday meal to its children, there is no need for them to buy food from hawkers.

Among several other initiatives passed by the corporation recently is the decision to raise the height of school walls. The corporation has also decided to deploy security guards outside all schools from the next academic year.

A senior official of the corporation said, “Most of the schools have a 6-ft high boundary wall. The corporation has decided to raise its height by around four feet.