Girl students residing in residential schools in Gajapati district are not feeling safe as they have become prone to misbehaviour by some of the male teachers employed to take their care, alleged some students here.

Some peoples’ representatives like Zilla Parishad member James Raika and Gunja Gamango have protested the increasing unhealthy practices in these schools in the district.

A recent incident happened at Badakalakot Government Residential School under Gumma block in the district where a girl student had brought a complaint against a male teacher for misbehaving with her. Also, the death of a girl of Anukondaguda residential school on April 12 created furor in the district. These incidents have brought the issue to the fore again.

Raika said girl students are not interested to take admission in the residential schools of Badakalakot, Anukondaguda, Kainpur, Chandragiri and Ramgiri out of fear. For such unwelcome situation in schools, the district  administration and the Education department are responsible, Raika added.

In some of these schools, minimum amenities are not available and girls required to go outside to answer the call of nature though the Government  spends crores of rupees to set up such institutions for the tribal students.

Even some male teachers and school employees do not hesitate to enter the girls’ hostels after prohibitive hours as there is no strict supervision. Expressing grave concern over this, Raika said the indecent activities are not a healthy trend and should be stopped at any cost. They called upon the authorities to act immediately for a healthy atmosphere to prevail in the residential schools.