To stop eve-teasing, Haryana villages ban girls from schools

The National Human Rights Commission has sought explanation from the Haryana government over reports that six village panchayats in Mahendergarh district have decided not to send their teenage girls to school due to recurring instances of eve-teasing.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media report, the NHRC issued notices to the chief secretary and the Director General of Police, seeking their reply in four weeks, a statement issued here said.

According to reports, perturbed over recurring instances of harassment of teenage girls and alleged inaction by police, panchayats of six villages -- Pal, Gadania, Kherki, Nihalawas, Kuksi and Palah -- had decided not to send their girls to schools. The decision, taken by the panchayats, which met at Pal village in district, will affect 400 girl students.

As per reports, the panchayats took the decision after two girl were allegedly teased by a few boys on their way home from school.

The commission observed that the content of the report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the girl students.

According to an NHRC statement, the panchayat members have expressed deep concern over the safety and security of the girls in the wake of increasing instances of sexual harassment.

In the notice, the NHRC also directed the DGP and chief secretary to submit the details of incidents of sexual harassment of girls in Haryana during the last three months, particularly in the 6 villages, and the preventive action, if any, taken by the administration in this regard, the statement said.

Image: The National Human Rights Commission has sent a notice to the Haryana government for not sending girls to schools  | Photograph: Arko Dutta/Reuters