Srinagar, May 08: Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Friday said the government will show zero tolerance towards any incident endangering female students, asserting that women’s safety in Kashmir’s educational institutions is “non-negotiable”.
“Our daughters… we want them to study, to go abroad. But if a situation like this arises, where will parents find the confidence to send their daughters anywhere — whether outside or here?” minister Sakina Itoo told media, as per Kashmir Convener.
Her warning came a day after a complaint of alleged harassment was received against a principal and an assistant professor at Amar Singh College in Srinagar. Within minutes of the complaint reaching her, Itoo ordered their suspension.
“When this complaint came to us yesterday, I instructed the secretary that it should not take more than five minutes. Both of them were suspended immediately,” she said.
Terming the incident “most unfortunate”, the minister said, “If there is an incident like this in Kashmir, I think there is nothing more unfortunate than this. And if it happens inside an educational institution, then it is simply wrong.”
Minister Itoo announced that an inquiry has been set up with a strict one-week deadline. “Not six months, not one month. No. Because this is a very sensitive issue. We cannot tolerate these things. The government cannot tolerate these things.”
She confirmed that a formal complaint has been filed, an inquiry order issued, and that the suspended officials will face “the strictest possible action” once the report is submitted.
“Parents must be assured that their daughters are safe here. That is non-negotiable,” Itoo added.
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