SDO Kishanganj: Khursheed Alam an accomplished officer

If DM Kishanganj Mr. Feraque Ahmad is the skilled captain of the district, SDO Kishanganj Mr. Khursheed Alam is an intelligent crew member. Both Mr. Feraque Ahmad and Khursheed Alam took the charges of DM (District Magistrate) and SDO (Sub Divisional Officer) at the same time, about two year back.

Since the acquisition of the post in Kishanganj, Mr. Khursheed Alam has worked efficiently and handled all the issues responsibly. Recently in absence of DM Kishanganj Mr. Feraque Ahmad, Mr. Khursheed Alam effectively handled the molestation case of 3.5 year minor girl of Bal Mandir School. Mr. Alam asked the private school authorities to exercise utmost caution while appointing staff for school buses. Similarly, in the flood relief work and other common people related issues Mr. Alam has led from the front and resolved them as well.

Looking simple in appearance, Mr. Alam is an accomplished officer and the district needs such government officials for the betterment of the area and its people. We expect similar affection from him in the future as well. And we are also ready to lend any type of support for the welfare of Kishanganj and its people.

Bal Mandir made essential amendments after meeting with DM & local representatives

After an unfortunate incident of molestation of a 3.5 girl child and continuous from the guardians/ parents/ wards as well as locals, the Bal Mandir School administration took some landmark decisions. First the school agreed upon providing liberty to the guardians to select school-dress (Salwar-Suit or Shirt-Skirt) for girl children from Class VI.

Further the school administration ensured that in future after every terminal examination the school would organise a meeting of the guardians and would take action on registered complains. Besides this, the school informed that all the alleged staffs involved in sexual harassment case have been suspended till the enquiry finishes.

DM Kishanganj Feraque Ahmad released a paper mentioning all the points discussed and the decisions taken by the school administration in a meeting with wards and active local citizens. The press release of DM also mentioned that the school is already agreed upon arranging separate washrooms and drinking water facilities for girls and boys.

Meanwhile, the group of people who took part in the meeting warned the school administration to keep the vigil eye for avoiding the unfortunate incident that happened a couple of weeks back.

Once considered as an alien school for some sects especially Muslims, Bal Mandir opened its gates for all sections of people about a decade back. However, the dress-code and other facilities of school were against the traditional culture of Muslims. Initially, the dress-code Shirt-Skirt was similar for all girl children from Nursery to Class XII. Earlier after the continuous complain of wards / guardians especially Muslim parents the school had already make it compulsory for girls to wear Salwar-Suit from Class IX.

Now after the courageous step of the parents of victim small girl, the school made special amendments in its curriculum on larger interest of the society. DM Kishanganj and concerned citizens and wards who compelled the school administration to made necessary changes also deserve plaudits.

On the whole, the incident in Bal Mandir was an alarming bell for all of us, and we need to keep our eyes and mind open to avoid such unfortunate circumstances in the future. Most importantly, DM Kishanganj the local people and guardians should also grill other schools of the district like Oriental, Crescent, Emaneul etc. and monitor the arrangements made for the safety and other things related to students.

Glorifying Moments of DM Kishanganj: Mr Feraque Ahmad

Continuing my earlier article about DM Kishanganj Mr. Feraque Ahmad, here I am sharing some of the glorifying moments passed in the life of Mr. Ahmad Sb. Along with his on job duties, Mr. Feraque Ahmad actively participate in various types of activities that include thought-provoking speeches. For his excellent performance, the Govt of Bihar has awarded the ‘Best DM Award’ in 2008.

Receving Award of Best DM from Deputy CM of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi in 2008


Adressing a huge gathering at Haridwar in 2007

A report published in Rashtriya Sahara on December 8, 2008

True picture of Bal Mandir Incident

Five days has spent since the unfortunate incident of child molestation in the premises of famous Bal Mandir School in Kishanganj. As the reports circulated by the school authority to media, it totally denied its direct involvement in the molestation of 3.5 years old girl by a school bus driver. The school principal Mr. Gulab Shah told that the 20-year-old driver has been handed over to the police. As the matter made public, locals were highly enraged and also protested against the school.

However, truth is something else and the incident happened due to sheer negligence of a lady teacher. According to the statement of victim girl, the lady teacher herself told the school driver to take her to other place and frighten her (this statement was listened by my close source and narrated by victim’s parents as well). Not only on Friday, earlier too, the same lady teacher had said the driver to do the same thing, because the small child was not taking her lunch.

Of course, the lady teacher had done such act to compel the girl child to take her lunch. But is it justified to behave with a small 3.5 year child? I will say a big NO, because the teachers of children’s play schools have the primary duty to console the children and monitor them keenly. Instead of consoling the victim child, the lady teacher occupied another way which was not at all a logical one and encouraged the culprit to take the advantage.

I would like to say, not only the driver but the concerned lady teacher and the school administration is responsible for the whole episode and all should be grilled. The schools are charging high for guidance and care of the children, but such an unfortunate incident clearly describes, how much school administration are taking care of the children in school premises.

We should wake up and ensure whether the particular school is taking proper care or not? Besides this, the wards / guardians should visit the schools on frequent intervals to monitor the facilities offered to children.

School bus driver held for allegedly assaulting minor girl

Dear All,

Below I am sharing a sad as well as unfortunate news that had really shocked me lot. Known for its peace and unparalleled beauty, Kishanganj is totally shocked with the heinous incident. It really questions the concern of prestigious schools like Bal Mandir towards small children as well as other children studying in the school. The incident took place in the school premises, and had happened in past as well, but the school authority was totally unaware about what is going on inside the school. Meanwhile, the parents / wards would now be anxious after sending their children to school.

Although this is an alamaring bell, but we should always wake up to avoid such unpleasant circumstances. Most importantly, the school administration should take complete responsibility for the safety of the children inside school premises.

Below is the report:

In a shocking incident, a school bus staff was arrested in Kishanganj on Saturday on the charge of sexually abusing a minor schoolgirl. Kishanganj SDPO Kamini Bala said the bus staff, Ganesh Kumar, attached to the prestigious Bal Mandir School, was arrested on the charge of sexually abusing a three-and-a-half-year student of the school.

The girl, a nursery student, was allegedly physically assaulted by the bus driver on the school campus itself during lunch break. She had been allegedly abused on three or four occasions. The minor narrated this incident to her mother on Friday evening.

The girl's parents live in a locality of the town, the SDPO said. Appalled at the audacity of the bus driver and sexual abuse of their daughter, they approached the school administration on Saturday. Later the same day, they lodged an FIR with Kishanganj police station. The couple, in desperation, also met the SDPO.

The SDPO visited the schoolgirl and pressured the child into divulging the entire incident.
Bal Mandir School principal Gulab Sah, while describing the incident as heinous, said the girl's parents had come with a complaint to him on Saturday morning, but the school management has been tightlipped. The school bus driver is certain to be sacked, said sources.

The school children, meanwhile, are unaware of this incident. A guardian said, "All this is an aberration. The school is known for its discipline. It must take stern action."