Karnataka state child protection policy not implemented effectively: KSCPCR member

'Only 30 per cent of the institutions have implemented the policy. Through the workshop we hope to strengthen the implementation of the policy,' Thippeswamy K T said.

Mangaluru: Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) member Thippeswamy K T said that though Karnataka state child protection policy came into existence in 2016, it has not been implemented effectively across the state.

Speaking on the sidelines of the workshop for district and taluk level officers working with children on the implementation of the policy, held at the Zilla Panchayat hall on Monday, he said that the Commission has been conducting such workshops in all 31 districts of the state. These sessions are aimed at district- and taluk-level officials working in the field of child welfare, raising awareness about the child protection policy and its effective implementation.

Educational institutions are required to implement their own child protection policy. Institutions must have child protection committees. “Only 30 per cent of the institutions have implemented the policy. Through the workshop we hope to strengthen the implementation of the policy. The policy demands a two page commitment letter enlisting the safety of the children duly signed by all staff. We have noticed that a few schools have the committee in place for namesake, but have failed in implementing the policy," he said.

Further, the government had amended the 2016 policy in 2023. The High Court has directed all the educational institutions to implement the policy within six months.

Thippeswamy directed Zilla Panchayat CEO Anandh K to ensure that every gram panchayat had a Woman and Child Kavalu Samithi (vigilance committee) to look into the safety and welfare of the children. It is the responsibility of the committee to have to have complete data of children living in the gram panchayat limits. The government has already prepared a six page format to collect details such as issuance of birth certificate, immunisation details, children with special needs, children with single parents, orphaned children and so on. These details will help in ascertaining the age of a child whenever there is a Pocso case or a teenage pregnancy case reported.

Among Karnataka’s 5,970 GPs, not a single one has ensured 100% issuance of birth certificates. Aadhaar cards alone are not sufficient proof of age, as birth certificates are required for age verification. The directive to constitute the woman and child committee was issued in 2018-19, but it has not yet been implemented.

He also stressed on establishing an education task force in each gram panchayat. This will help in understanding the educational needs of the children in schools and help in understanding the reasons for repeated absentees or school drop outs. “ it is unfortunate that the implementation of this task force is only 5% across the state," he said.

He also noted that the commission has more than 1000 child related cases before it and expressed concerns over growing cases of foeticide in Vijayapura, Yadgir, kolar, Mandya, Bengaluru Rural. In this regard, the commission visited a few scanning centres and also recommended necessary action for violations in such centres.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr Anandh K , Women and Child welfare department deputy director Usman, Child protection officer Kumar were present.

Karnataka state Commission for Protection of Child Rights member Thippeswamy K T said that a workshop for the head teachers of educational institutions in Bantwal on Karnataka state child protection policy will be held on December 17. Following the workshop, grievances from students of 25 educational institutions in Modankapu in Bantwal, will be heard.