Create awareness on child rights, says CMC Chief

Udupi CMC President Yuvaraj has said that increasing rate of atrocities against children calls for awareness and stringent action against perpetrators of crime.

Speaking after inaugurating district-level child safety week here on Tuesday, he said that all the stakeholders in the society should join their hands to protect children.

Along with teachers, parents also have a responsibility to protect children. Parents should interact with teachers very often. The police should create awareness on the safety of children and also the punishment available for the offenders who commit crimes against children.

He said that the technology is playing a major role in misleading the children and the teachers should monitor the activities of the children during the school intervals.

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (Bengaluru) Member Vanitha Thorvi said the awareness week is organised at state and all district and taluk headquarters.

Awareness week should be held in each school in the State. The awareness programme held, should concentrate on educational and sociological aspects of the children.

There is a need for healthy and safe atmosphere for children in schools and society, she added.

She said that complaint box should be installed in schools and non teaching staff should be trained to handle the grievances. The complaint box would enable the children to share their problems. Counseling in schools will help children to come out of their problems.

She said the Commission aims at holding awareness meets addressing parents, teachers, NGOs and children at the earliest.

Expressing concern over condition of children in residential schools, she said tthat he issue needs to be addressed by taking notice of the problems encountered by the children in residential schools and hostels.

Udupi BEO Ravishankar said except for two to three schools, all schools in the district have installed CCTV cameras in all class rooms and other important locations. The schools are also equipped with complaint boxes.

An awareness workshop for parents would be held in all schools in the district. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Dr R Vishal flagged off the Children Awareness jatha at Jodukatte. The jatha concluded at Board High School.