Pune Police And Education Department Introduces New Safety Protocols For School Staff 

September 6, 2024

After the Badlapur incident, student safety has become a major concern. The police and education departments have mandated immediate character verification for all contractual workers and staff in schools. Schools in Pune are currently obtaining verification certificates for contract workers, focusing on van drivers, rickshaw drivers, helpers, sanitation staff, and other non-teaching personnel. Last week, the Pune City Police Commissioner met with school leaders to provide guidelines, emphasizing the need to verify the character of both regular and contractual staff. Schools have been instructed to collect character verification certificates from contract employees promptly, with local police assisting in the verification process.

Nand Kumar Sagar, President of the Pune District Headmasters Association, mentioned that character verification for school contract workers is currently being conducted as per the Education Department’s guidelines. However, he expressed concerns that this verification alone may not be sufficient, as many accused can evade justice due to lack of evidence and pressure. He called for the government and police to implement more effective measures.

Sujit Jagtap, President of the Pune City Principals Association, highlighted that both the education department and the Pune City Police Commissioner stress the need for character verification. Once the certificates are obtained, they will be retained by school management. Nonetheless, Jagtap raised questions about the validity period of these certificates and whether re-verification will be necessary after a certain time. 

Essential Measures for Schools:

Every school should have a counselor.

– Conduct workshops on ‘safe touch.’

– Work in coordination with the ‘Damini Team.’

– Teach students martial arts and self-defense.

– Encourage communication between teachers, parents, and students.

Precautions Before Appointment:

– Monitor employee behavior.

– Conduct thorough background checks on contract workers, in addition to regular employees.

– Obtain a character verification report from the local police system before appointment.

– Prioritize hiring female staff for non-teaching positions that work with students up to six years old.