Malad molestation: We helped parents file plaint: School

Malad molestation: We helped parents file plaint: School

DNA

February 26, 10:30 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1804577

Mumbai: The management of a Malad-based franchise of a popular chain of preschools has helped the parents of a three-year-old child, who was allegedly molested in the school bus, to file a case against the bus cleaner.

A spokesperson for the school said, “It is an unfortunate incident. We have a lady attendant who takes care of kids throughout. In this case, the cleaner and the lady attendant were both handed over to the police for questioning immediately.”

Saying that they are happy that the child cried foul, she added, “This is the only way for us to know, so we can isolate and discipline the miscreants whom the children call ‘uncle’ and ‘bhaiyya’.”

She also said that this was not an isolated incident, and that the more and more children are falling prey to perverts, which is disturbing. “That apart, child transport is becoming as much an everyday horror for schools as it is for parents,” she added.

The school has also added that several steps will be taken to ensure that such incidents don’t take place again in the future.

“We do not want to make tall promises. But we have evaluated the situation and will be issuing a statement in the next two days on what steps and actions we will be taking to ensure kids don’t go through such trauma,” the spokesperson said.

The school has come out with awareness programmes for the children, so they can differentiate between “good” touch and “bad” touch.

The management refused to go into the case in depth, as it is still being investigated by the police.

 

BMC property tax move reveals lack of homework

BMC property tax move reveals lack of homework

DNA

February 26, 11:00 IST

http://www.dnaindia.com/mobile/report.php?n=1804580

Mumbai: Before imposing the capital value-based property tax system, the BMC has failed to carry out several necessary surveys. All individual properties, which would come under the property tax net, had to be surveyed and measured but the civic body chose not to go through the exhaustive process. Instead, they simply used old details from its records for new tax bills. This has given rise to a lot of discrepancies.

“The kind of complaints and objections we are receiving now clearly shows that the issue needed much attention rather than such an haphazard implementation. Square feet area of several house units are not accurate in the bills. There are also issues of ownership and tenancy,” said a senior civic official. Officials added that the BMC found surveying each and every property not only a tedious task, but also an expensive one.

However, Rajiv Jalota, additional municipal commissioner, said each complaint will be looked into till the owner is satisfied.

“We have taken all the details from the old records and are rectifying them as and when we come across any anomaly. Citizens need not worry,” Jalota added.