The new guidelines mandate the installation of CCTV cameras on school premises, daily roll calls conducted three times a day, and compulsory police verification of all teaching and non-teaching staff prior to employment
The Maharashtra government has issued a set of sweeping directives to all schools across the state in a bid to strengthen student safety, following the alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten children at a pre-primary school in Thane district in August 2024.
The new guidelines mandate the installation of CCTV cameras on school premises, daily roll calls conducted three times a day, and compulsory police verification of all teaching and non-teaching staff prior to employment.
The orders follow a highly disturbing incident in Badlapur East, Thane, where two young students were reportedly assaulted inside a school toilet. Initial reports suggested that the school administration and local police failed to act when the incident came to light. A 24-year-old contractual sweeper, Akshay Shinde, was arrested in connection with the case on 17 August. According to a Hindustan Times report, Shinde was later killed in police custody on 23 September after allegedly attempting to snatch an officer’s gun and firing three rounds.
In the aftermath of the incident, the state government moved quickly to tighten security norms in educational institutions. Schools must now immediately inform the local police station about any student’s complaint of sexual assault. Staff appointments will be subject to police character verification and the submission of a character certificate.
To monitor student attendance more closely, schools have been asked to hold roll calls thrice daily and alert parents via text message if a child is marked absent.
Schools will also be required to conduct sessions on “good touch and bad touch” for younger children to help them identify and report inappropriate behaviour. A complaint box—opened twice weekly in the presence of a committee that includes parents—will also become mandatory.
Private schools must install CCTV cameras across the campus, including outside toilet areas, and ensure footage is stored for a minimum of 30 days. School buses will also need to be fitted with CCTV cameras and staffed with a female attendant at all times.
Additional safety measures include compulsory self-defence training for students and the removal of tobacco or pan shops operating within 100 metres of school premises, with schools expected to coordinate with police if such establishments are found.
The comprehensive directives mark a significant overhaul of school safety standards in the state and reflect growing public concern over the lack of oversight in educational institutions.
