BHOPAL: Change in guard in the state has started showing its effects in terms of government’s concern for the safety of women. Higher education department has sought details on security of girls in and around colleges and hostels. Department has written to all higher officials including principals of the colleges seeking details from them about the security of students at girls hostels, co-ed and girls colleges.
The letter categorically mentions the point number 17 of Congress’s Vachan Patra’s that promises to provide security to girls studying in colleges and to those who stay in hostels. All the colleges have to provide information in a prescribed format immediately. The colleges have to provide information about number of girl students in colleges and numbers of those staying in the hostels.
Colleges will also provide details like if they have a hostel attached to their college building. Colleges are asked to give details of distance of police station or police post from the college. The college administration will have to mention if a police outpost is required in or near college along with the reason.
The prescribed format in which the information is sought from the colleges has also asked if land is available near the main gate of girls’ hostel. A sort of clarification has also been demanded from the principals of the girls colleges and incharge of girl hostels if the hostels are not operational. Congress has termed its manifesto as Vachan Patra, wherein it had promised special measures for women’s safety. Keeping up with its promise CM Kamal Nath had given a copy of party’s vachan patra to the chief secretary recently and had asked him to send it to all departments to ensure that it is fulfilled.
Guest faculties can now avail maternity leave
In a new development, higher education department has made a provision for maternity leave for guest faculties. The order released recently said that now even the guest faculties are entitled for maternity leave and their job would remain secure. The letter from higher education department (HED) said that there was no provision for maternity leave for the guest faculty till now but from now onwards guest faculty can go on maternity leave.
However, it will be counted under the clause of leave without pay. HED has also tried to instil a feeling of job security among female guest faculties in its order which says that during the period of maternity leave her post would not be replaced by inviting another guest faculty. The faculty can join college concerned to complete her term after availing the leave. The order comes into effect from the ongoing academic session.
