JOIN USAddressing a press meet on Monday, Samithi Convener Renny D’Souza said though United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child (UNCRC) came into existence 20 years ago, the issue of child labour, child trafficking, corporal punishment, sexual assault, rape on minors continue to haunt the district and state.
He urged the district administration to take measures to implement the decisions taken at Makkala masotsava. He said the government should take measures to set up Balamandira in Dakshina Kannada district.
“The district administration should initiate measures to register those institutions /organisations who have been working for the children’s rights under Juvenile Justice Act 2000 Section 34. To avoid the schools charging exorbitant fees, measures should be taken to provide fee structure on the notice board of the school from the beginning of the academic year. As the number of cases of child trafficking is on rise, the district administration should send the Supreme Court order and notices to all the hospitals and nursing homes for the protection of destitute children,” he said.
D’Souza said “though child trafficking and women trafficking is being carried out in the district, district administration has not convened a meet on women and child trafficking prevention for the last two years. The district administration should convene the meeting at the earliest. As per the Juvenile Justice Act, every district must have a juvenile police unit. However, Dakshina Kannada district does not have the unit. The juvenile police unit must be set up in the district and campaign and publicity must be provided on the protection of childrens rights,” he informed.
The committee flayed the government’s decision to suspend Child Welfare Committee of Dakshina Kannada without any enquiry. The district administration should constitute Fact Finding Committee and initiate action against the culprits. He warned of staging a protest in front of DC office, if the district administration fails to initiate measures to implement Makkala Masotsava decisions within 15 days.