SOPs for Pocso Act implementation, child rights panel chief

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) is framing a set of standard operating procedures (SOP) for the effective implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, commission chairperson Kripa Alva said.

Speaking at a Meet the Press programme organised by Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Association and Mangaluru Press Club here on Monday, she said the conviction rate under Pocso Act was only 14% in 2015-16. The SOP will ensure better coordination among various stakeholders like special public prosecutor, police, doctors, child welfare committee and others, she said.

“At present, there is a lack of coordination among the departments. The SOP will act as a link among stakeholders, so that it is clear who has to enter the process when. This will also help in getting justice to the victims,” she said.  The SOP is likely to be ready by July-end. It will be the first SOP in the entire country and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is also waiting for it to be implemented across the country, she explained.

She said the commission is working towards creating conducive atmosphere in government schools for learning. Basic facilities like fan, light, toilet, drinking water, benches and desks have to provided in the schools. “In addition, sport kits have to be given to schools  as I truly believe in the overall development of children. Moreover, the schools should have sufficient teachers to teach the children. Efforts will be made to teach children Communicative English from Class 1 in government schools,” she added.

Taking a cue from Delhi government, KCPCR has decided to improve the condition of the government schools in state through ‘School Adoption Programme’. Under this programme, alumni of the school can donate for construction of classrooms and toilets, drinking water facilities, library etc. Recently, the commission members visited Delhi to study how the situation at government schools improved with the support from donors there, she explained.

Kripa Alva said she will visit all the 30 educational districts in the state and organise meetings with public and request them to help to improve the condition of government schools. The education department has to be more vigilant and proactive in bringing school dropouts back to the portal of the school.

To a query on Kannada Development Authority’s opposition to continue LKG and UKG in English medium in government schools, she said that the government has not given permission for it. It was the complete failure of the department to allow it to function (English medium) last year, she said.

Through “Shale Kade Nanna Nade' (my walk towards school) last year, the commission has identified 1.71 lakh children dropped out of school. The commission has launched a campaign against child marriage and in the last two months, 100 child marriages in Kalaburagi and 70 in Belagavi were prevented.

The campaign is being held in all the districts and taluk headquarters till June 21. SAARC countries have recognised the work of the commission in creating an awareness against child marriages, she said.