The alleged rape of a four-year-old at a well-known school in Bhubaneswar by the school van driver is just a harsh reminder of how vulnerable even kids are to such crimes. The Telegraph spoke to a cross-section of people to elicit their opinion on the issue

Safety of kids on the school premises is a school’s responsibility. When toddlers go to the toilet, female maids or aayahs usually escort them. Males are not allowed inside female toilets. In most schools, these rules are strictly followed and the 
authorities are vigilant. But, today’s incident is sickening. Where were the staff members of the school when the kid had gone to the toilet? There should be immediate probe and exemplary punishment. There should also be a mechanism to monitor whether mushrooming playschools are following the required norms

Pramita Mishra schoolteacher

This is shocking beyond words! I have an 11-year-old daughter who has been commuting in a school van for several years now. We trust the drivers blindly. To some extent they become a part of our daily lives. But such incidents make us question our very belief in humanity. This has left me baffled. The schools should carry out background checks of prospective employees before hiring them

Dipta Mishra private sector employee

As soon as a rape is reported, the child should be taken to hospital and police should be informed. The rape victim needs medical care, comfort, understanding, and support. There may be signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, which is also called rape trauma syndrome. If you see symptoms like these, reach out to your child and let them know that you are always available to listen to him/her, no matter what

Anuja Pandey physician

Specific rules have been set for school buses and vehicles to ensure safety of students. We will check if the vehicle was following the guidelines. We will also have a re-look at the guidelines and see if anything needs to be included

YB Khurania police commissioner