Nearly 1000 school girls sexually abused by family, teachers

Haryana, June 3: 'Neither safe at home nor at school' is the condition of pre-teen girls in the state as of now. While the country raises protesting for the cause of crimes against women, a large number of pre-teen girls studying in Haryana schools have reported sexual harassment.

The startling revelations have come to the fore through a survey conducted by teachers of government schools in the state's Rewari district. It revealed that the girls were not safe either at home or school.

The study was conducted by 60 teachers deployed by the education department. These women teachers spoke to about 30,000 girls between the age group of 5 and 12 who confessed to having been the victims of sexual harassment.

During interaction, about 1,000 girls disclosed that the people exploiting them sexually resorted to touching their private body parts. Those who exploited the girls physically included relatives, neighbours and even schoolteachers. More than 800 girls studying in classes VII and VIII refused to disclose anything in detail, reported India Today.

The entire exercise covered 443 primary and 99 middle schools in the district. Each female teacher deployed to speak to the girls covered 10 schools.

Sources also said that girls at every school reported to have suffered sexual harassment in some form. It also came to light that some girls disclosed their plight to their mothers but they too, directed them to stay mum. Some girls said their mother expressed helplessness in resolving the issue.

They always feared of harsh consequences.

The Haryana government has taken note of the report.

According to media reports, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has decided to send the teams of Haryana Child Right Commission to schools in all districts of the state to find out the extent of sexual harassment.

Haryana education minister Geeta Bhukkal said the revelations in the report were serious and the government would take action to prevent harassment.

OneIndia News