KSCPCR asks officials to play a proactive role in protecting child rights

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) member Shashidhar Kosumbe has asked officials of various departments to play a proactive role in the protection of child rights.

The commission aims at providing a safe and secure environment for the overall development of children who need care and protection, he said.

He was addressing district and taluk officials after inaugurating a workshop jointly organised by the District Legal Services Authority, the District Bar Association, the Zilla Panchayat, the Department of Women and Child Welfare and the Child Protection Unit in Ballari on Monday.

Mr. Kosumbe called upon teachers to become conversant with laws that govern rights of the children enshrined in the Constitution.

Despite stringent laws such as the Child Marriage Restraint Act and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the number of such cases involving children continues to increase.

In the last three years, the State has recorded more than 10,000 PoCSO Act cases, 17,000 infant deaths, 21,000 stillbirth and 2,078 maternal deaths cases, he added.

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030, most of the goals are relevant to women and children, Mr. Kosumbe said and stressed the importance of people’s active participation and proper coordination among officials in implementing child rights to eradicate social evils.

Senior civil judge and member secretary of the District Legal Services Authority Rajesh N. Hosamani stated that it is the duty of the government and the statutory bodies to ensure that the rights of children are protected.

He urged officers to utilise the training programme and join hands in building a better society.

Deputy Director of the Women and Child Welfare Department K.H. Vijay Kumar said that various training programmes and workshops are being organised in the district once every two or three months to create awareness about laws to protect children and women.