MP women’s hostels to be inspected every month

bhopal — The Madhya Pradesh government ordered monthly inspection of women’s hostels in the state, after an inmate of a facility for differently-abled women was allegedly raped by its director.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has issued directions to officials in this regard to prevent recurrence of such incidents at women’s hostels and orphanages.

The director of a hostel for speech and hearing impaired women in the Awadhpuri area was held for allegedly raping a 20-yearold deaf and mute tribal inmate.

“I have taken a meeting of the officials concerned and directed them to conduct monthly inspections of such (state) aided and unaided facilities where girls are residing,” Chouhan said.

“The inspection will be carried out by the collector and superintendent of police in each district on a monthly basis,” he said.

“Rules will be framed for private hostels, too, to ensure girls remain safe there,” Chouhan said. The director, Ashwini Sharma, was arrested last night.

The complainant, a resident of Dhar district, has alleged that Sharma raped her repeatedly during her stay at the hostel, a government-aided centre, over the past three years, a senior police officer had said on Thursday.

Talking to reporters, Congress media cell chairperson Shobha demanded a social audit of all facilities in the state which house women. —