Is child protection our priority?

The Covid-19 crisis has pushed children to the brink.

As more cases of abuse and violence against children surface, the state child protection society is still plagued by a shortage of staff. A senior bureaucrat says that since most of the officers are hired by a manpower agency, training and orientation are major hurdles.

For instance, a team of 11 members oversees the 164 child care institutions in Bengaluru, with a population of over one crore. They cater to children in conflict with law, as well as those in need of care and protection. Only one is a government employee and 10 are outsourced.