Patna: The Muzaffarpur district authorities, apparently taking a cue from the much-highlighted sexual abuse case, has decided to conduct regular inspection of all Kasturba Gandhi residential schools in the district.

The newly appointed district magistrate, Mohammad Sohail, has formed a three-member committee comprising women to monitor the functioning of Kasturba Gandhi schools and hostels of girl inmates. The decision was taken at a meeting with officials of the education department and those of the Bihar education project in Muzaffarpur on Wednesday. The meeting was presided over by Sohail, who directed the officials concerned to properly conduct the inspection.

Muzaffarpur district education officer Lalan Prasad Singh said the members of the committee would visit the schools and inquire about the facilities being provided to the girls living in the hostels. "The new system has been put in place so that the girl inmates could interact with the members of the committee," he added.

The committee will comprise one child development project officer (CDPO), a member of the women's helpline and a social worker. The district authorities had received complaints that girls didn't share their sufferings with male wardens and teachers, who were assigned to take care of these girls. "The new committee will be made operational once the schools reopen after summer vacation," Singh revealed.

A senior official, who was present at the meeting, said two members of the committee have been asked to stay twice a month with the girl inmates. The district programme officer and the officials of the Bihar education project have been told to cooperate with the new committee.

According to sources, around 1,600 girls belonging to economically backward sections of society were living in the hostels of Kasturba Gandhi Vidyalaya spread over in 16 blocks of Muzaffarpur district. "The new system has been introduced keeping security of the girls in mind," a district programme officer said.

The members of the committee will meet the girls every 15 days and submit a report to the district education officer.