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The State Higher and Technical Education Department has sanctioned Rs. 90 crore for the renovation of the Savitribai Phule girls' hostel at Charni Road. A high-level committee, chaired by State Chief Secretary Manoj Saunik, had granted approval for the redevelopment.
This decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident in June, where an 18-year-old student was sexually assaulted and killed in her fourth-floor room. The accused, Prakaash Kanojia, a security guard and a laundry worker, took his own life and was found on the tracks near Charni Road railway station.
The five-storey hostel, housing 30 rooms on each floor, was in a deteriorating state and had been greenlighted for redevelopment before the untoward incident. The proposed plan is to construct an eight-storey building spread across 17,374 square meters, aiming to replace the existing structure.
The incident sparked public outcry, prompting the government to form two committees - one to investigate the tragic incident and the other to evaluate security measures in 40 hostels state wide. Concerns arose regarding the easy access male staff had to the dormitories, questioning the lax approach toward women's safety by the authorities.
Subsequent to the committee's recommendations, the government issued a resolution mandating stringent security measures. This includes the installation of a secure boundary wall, trained wardens, CCTV surveillance, trained female security personnel, computerized entry and exit monitoring systems for the hostel, and an emergency alarm on every floor.
Neelam Gorhe, acting Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, emphasized the need for upkeep, adequate meal provision, ironing facilities, and giving paramount importance to security. Highlighting a recent meeting on women's empowerment chaired by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Gorhe emphasized the critical importance of infrastructure and recognized Patil's proactive stance in addressing these concerns.
Gorhe stressed the necessity of hiring trained security staff from the state security corporation due to the expertise they bring, as many recruited by the agency are retired personnel.
In essence, the government's measures, including the substantial budget allocation and the implementation of stringent security recommendations, aim to revamp safety measures and ensure the welfare of female students in hostels. The tragic incident has acted as a catalyst for stringent reforms. There's a clear recognition of the multifaceted requirements, from infrastructure improvement to strengthening security mechanisms, for creating a conducive and secure environment for students.
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