Boy sodomised: Noida schools step up security, parents not impressed

On Tuesday, 35-year-old Ashok Mishra, a member of the school’s administrative staff, was arrested for allegedly sodomising the 11-year-old student on the school premises.

In the light of the recent incident of a child being sodomised at a private school in Greater Noida, district schools said they have stepped up security measures to ensure the safety of all students.

The district administration also sent a notice to all private schools in Noida and Greater Noida on Thursday asking them to increase security measures. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

The district administration also sent a notice to all private schools in Noida and Greater Noida on Thursday asking them to increase security measures.

On Tuesday, 35-year-old Ashok Mishra, a member of the school’s administrative staff, was arrested for allegedly sodomising the 11-year-old student on the school premises. According to the victim, the man was sexually abusing him for the past three to four years.

This incident is the second major case of violence against students in the NCR in as many months. On September 8, an eight-year-old boy was murdered at Ryan International School, Bhondsi, Gurgaon.

After that incident, the district administration had asked schools to strengthen security measures and follow all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Supreme Court guidelines on child safety. It was also promised that the district magistrate and other senior officials would inspect schools to ensure safety measures are in place. But of the nearly 800 private schools in Noida and Greater Noida, only 10 have been inspected in the last one month.

Delhi Public School, Noida, spokesperson said, “We have always been committed towards the safety of our students and all security measures are being followed diligently.”

The private school where the victim in the sodomy case studies has also increased its security. On Thursday, the district administration had sent a notice to the school for flouting CBSE guidelines.

“Apart from increasing CCTV cameras and vigilance at the entry and exit gates, we are also in the process of installing GPS devices on our buses. We are checking people who enter our building,” said the principal of the school.

Amity International School, Noida, also claimed to have enhanced security after the Ryan incident.

“Amity has always been committed to child safety and in light of the recent incidents, we have increased security on the school premises,” said Savita Mehta, spokesperson, Amity Group of Institutions.

However, parents are not an impressed lot and claim that more needs to be done.

“Private schools in Noida are not following CBSE guidelines and despite the DM’s notices, they continue to flout safety rules. Unless the CBSE acts against such schools, they will not stop flouting norms, ” K Arunachalam, general secretary, All Noida School Parents Association.

“By not following CBSE norms and other security measures diligently, private schools have shown that they are the least bothered about the security of our children. Schools need to be reprimanded by the CBSE and the district administration if they fail to provide the security they claim they have,” said Niti Srivastava, a parent.

“Even after the horrific incident at Ryan International School in Gurgaon, hardly any change has been brought about in the safety protocol in private schools,” said Vishal, a parent whose child studies in a private school of Greater Noida.