Odisha sets new norms to make SC, ST residential schools safer

Bhubaneswar: After being cornered over serious lapses in management of several schools, Odisha government has come up with fresh guidelines to streamline the state of affairs in the functioning of the residential schools under the SC and ST Development department.

As per the fresh norms, Odisha is planning to make parents active partners in ensuring safe and secure environment for children both at home and school. In pursuant to this the government has decided to convene regular parent-teachers meetings.

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According to sources, the move is aimed at ensuring that students regularly interact with their parents so that they can easily communicate their problems they face in such residential schools. This will also help in early identification of incidents of child abuse in schools.

Such initiative will also be crucial in providing a safe and secure environment to the students in educational institutions, said sources.

The department will bear all expenses of the parent-teachers meeting for which there will be a special budget provision.

At present, the SC and ST Development department is running 1670 residential schools where nearly 5.4 lakh students are being imparted education along with free boarding and lodging facilities in Odisha.

Apart from this, the SC and ST development department has also decided to install CCTV cameras in the educational institutions to monitor activities and strengthening security measures.