सव भव तु सिखनः ु Child Development Dept., Govt. of UP, to release the sanc oned amount of Rs. 3,00,000/- to the children of deceased vic m within prescribed me limit. The commission considered the reports and accordingly closed the case on 29 November 2022. 2.) Sexual harassment and murder of ST girls by te a c h e rs a n d staff i n A s h ra m s c h o o l s o f Maharashtra, Case No: 308/13/8/2017 This ma er pertains to alleged death of over 500 scheduled tribe girls under suspicious circumstance in the State-run Ashram schools over the past decade in various districts of Maharashtra State. The ma er was published in the newspaper DNA Mumbai edi on dated 14 January 2017. It was also reported that the tribal girls were also found to be vic ms of sexual abuse at school. Pursuant to the direc ons of the Commission, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, vide le er dated 09 February 2017 forwarded a detailed report of Deputy Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, wherein the various measures taken by the government in the ma er were submi ed. As regards the case of the tribal girl, who was found to be a vic m of sexual abuse, it was informed that the vic m was from a privately run ins tu on. As directed, a District Level Commi ee of lady officers including police inspected all the Ashram schools and interacted with the girl students and submi ed a detailed report. In cases where there were complaints of sexual harassments, serious ac on was taken against the accused. All Ashram schools were instructed to install CCTV cameras, emergency bells, appointment of Lady Superintendent, construc on of compound walls, deployment of security guards, provision of sanitary napkins to the teenage girls, monitoring of health care/menstrua on cycle by female wardens, rou ne periodic checkup of urine test of tribal girl students and to impart hygiene training to female students. Further, vide communica on dated 15 February 2019, Deputy Secretary, Tribal Development, Govt. of Maharashtra submi ed that out of 502 Ashram schools, CCTV cameras have been installed in 285 schools and a pilot study is underway to connect 30 government Ashram schools in Nasik District through a central CCTV surveillance system. As regards construc on of compound walls, it was submi ed that, out of 502 schools, compound walls have been constructed in 363 schools. Chapter 7 - Thematic Areas Adver sement for filling up of vacant posts was also published and the recruitment process was undergoing and it was assured that all the vacant posts would be filled by February 2019. The Commission, therea er, considering the aforesaid report, vide its proceedings dated 17 June 2019, sought a further status report from Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Govt. of Maharashtra. In response to the above direc ons, Deputy Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Govt. of Maharashtra vide communica on dated 05 December 2019 submi ed that, out of 497 Ashram schools, CCTV cameras had been installed in 285 schools. A pilot project was also reported to begin in 26 tribal establishments in Nashik PO. This included four Ashram schools, 21 hostels and one Eklavya Model Residen al school. Compound walls were also constructed in 417 Ashram schools, out of 497. As regards filling up various vacancies in the Ashram schools, it was informed that joining order for 1,036 teachers' posts, out of 1,392 had been issued and 961 out of them joined service. It was also submi ed that powers had also been given to Project Officers to employ security guards on outsourcing basis with a view to strengthen safety and security of the children in the Ashram schools. The Commission considered the aforesaid reports and the instant case was closed on 26 April 2022. 3.) Kidnapping, gang rape and murder of a minor girl in Sahibganj, Jharkhand (Case No:1285/34/17/2020) The Commission received a complaint of kidnapping, gang rape and murder of a minor girl. Violent sexual assault was commi ed on the person of the deceased before death. A case was registered but the accused was not arrested ll then and there was no progress in the case. On calling the report from SP Sahibganj, it was communicated that a case under POCSO Act was registered against five accused persons. They were arrested and jailed. A team of doctors was cons tuted, which opined the cause of death as asphyxia as a result of strangula on by ligature. However, the viscera was pre- served and the above-men oned sample was called for further informaon. Violent sexual assault was commi ed on the person of the deceased before death. During inves ga on, all allega ons were found true against accused persons. Later on, in another report dated 25 February 2022, the 47