Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121254090500.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Campuses will be made cellphone-free: Baby

Special Correspondent

Complaints about misuse in schools

Opposition’s cooperation sought for clampdown
Chandy demands aid for Ambalappuzha students’ families

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is considering sterner enforcement of the ban on use of cellphones on school campuses in view of the rising tide of complaints about cellphone misuse, Education Minister M.A. Baby told the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a submission by K.C. Venugopal (Congress), the Education Minister noted that the complaints were coming despite a ban on cellphone use up to Plus Two classes in force in the State. He would consult the Home Minister on how the ban could be enforced more strictly, Mr. Baby said.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the ban must be extended to colleges as well in view of the large number of complaints about phone misuse coming from different parts of the State and the death of three Plus Two students of the Model Vocational Higher Secondary School, Ambalappuzha.

Report awaited

Earlier, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the government would consider clamping down on mobile phone use in schools if the Opposition would cooperate with it. The government had asked Vinson M. Paul, IG (Central Range), to inquire into complaints about the investigation into the death of the girls and report back to the government. Appropriate steps would be taken once the report was received, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Venugopal alleged that there was a bid by the local leadership of the CPI(M) to hush up the case which reportedly involved sexual exploitation of the girls allegedly by their schoolmates. He pointed out that Ajith, the reporter of an eveninger, was beaten up by CPI(M) activists following a report of his on the incident.

The Home Minister promised to look into the matter and said that there was no question of the government allowing attacks on journalists.

Later, responding to a plea from the Opposition leader, Mr. Baby said he would visit the homes of the dead school girls at the earliest available opportunity.

The Opposition leader also urged him to consider providing financial assistance to the families of the girls who were very poor.