
Telangana to build a child-safe society
Recognizing the importance of the issue, the Telangana State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, Women Safety Wing of Telangana Police, Women Development and Child Welfare Department, and the Telangana State Legal Services Authority, hosted the State-Level Stakeholders Consultation Meet 2025 in Hyderabad on the theme: 'Voice for the Voiceless: Rights and Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse.'
At this high-level conference, attended by Supreme Court dignitaries and national stakeholders, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reaffirmed the state's commitment to child protection. He emphasized that 29 Bharosa Centres across Telangana are providing legal aid, medical support, police help, and psychological counselling under one roof, in a child-friendly environment. 'Justice is not just about speeding up case disposal. It is about protecting our children, restoring their dignity, and helping them reclaim their childhood,' the CM said. He also stressed the growing threat of online abuse and child pornography, calling for strict punishment and procedural reforms. Telangana, he added, is prepared to take every necessary step to build a child-safe society.
Often, conversations around safety focus only on girls, how they should behave, dress, or move. But it's time we focus on how we raise our boys. Respect, consent, empathy, and emotional intelligence must be core values taught at home and in school. Because protection cannot mean control over girls, it must mean responsibility among boys.
- M Kiranmayee, Public Relations Officer, I&PR Department, Hyderabad
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Report recommends expansion of Kerala's list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes
A report of the Kerala government's Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms has suggested that the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) in the State be revised to include 28 Other Backward Classes (OBC) that do not find a place in it. The recommendation is part of the Work Study Report 2025 prepared by the department for strengthening the Backward Classes Development Department (BCDD). The report noted that currently there are 88 communities in Kerala's OBC list, which forms the basis for the reservation benefits to State government service. That said, reservation benefits related to State-run courses in higher education are finalised on the basis of the SEBC list based on the Kumara Pillai Commission Report of 1965. According to the report, the crux of the problem is that there are 28 communities that find a place in the State OBC list, but not in the SEBC one. Since these 28 communities are included only in the OBC list, they cannot claim reservation benefits with respect to education. This could be perceived as a denial of social justice since these groups, backward both financially and educationally, are denied reservations with respect to education when students from economically backward families in the general category can claim such support, the report observed. BC promoters With the aim of improving the general functioning and service delivery of the BCDD, the report has recommended the appointment of Backward Classes promoter (BC promoter) in all 78 taluks. BC promoters, who may be paid a honorarium of ₹25,000 per month, will help the department to expand its reach to the grassroots and strengthen field-level operations, it noted. Further, the report also recommended the creation of a Planning and Monitoring Cell headed by a Joint Director-ranked officer in the BCDD. The cell would monitor the progress on schemes and projects and examine the feasibility of new undertakings. The Director, BCDD, had submitted a set of recommendations in September 2021, seeking the transformation of the four zonal offices into district offices and opening new offices in districts that lacked them. The Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, examining the recommendations, had proposed a detailed study for strengthening the four zonal offices and directorate.


The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Digital trail under scanner after Dharmavaram man's arrest for extremist links, says SP
Confirming Saturday's arrest in Dharmavaram town of Sri Sathya Sai district, Superintendent of Police V. Ratna on Sunday (August 17) briefed the media here, attesting that 42-year-old Kotwal Noor Mohammad, residing in the town for 15 years, was actively connected to the Pakistan-backed social media groups, circulating jihadi propaganda. The SP, along with Deputy SP (Dharmavaram) U. Narasingappa, disclosed that Noor Mohammad was initially thought to be a passive member, but he turned out to be an active participant in discussions intended to glorify extremist ideology. She said that the police seized the accused's mobile phone and some literature linked to the jihadi campaign in Saturday's predawn raid. 'This Dharmavaram incident is a clear proof as to how social media platforms are being mishandled and misused to negatively impact youth and gullible minds at the local level by the terrorist groups,' the SP said. Although Noor Mohammad was held on Saturday (August 16), the real investigation 'has begun now,' Ms. Ratna said, adding that the seized mobile had been sent to forensic laboratories to unravel his 'digital footprint' to map his network. She did not rule out the possibility that the accused might have acted as a recruiter or sympathiser beyond the Sri Sathya Sai district. The SP said that the case was booked under the stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Immediately after the arrest, Noor Mohammad was produced before the Kadiri court in the district and was shifted to the Kadapa Central Prison on a 14-day remand. 'We are waiting for the forensic revelations which will expose the depth of his involvement in the cross-border terrorism activities,' the SP said.


The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
‘Possibility of reformation, no criminal past'—why Kerala HC modified life term of former IS operative
While dismissing Haja's appeal against the 2020 judgment of the Ernakulam special court, the division bench of Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K.V. Jayakumar took into account the NIA's charges that the convict made an unsuccessful attempt to procure explosives. Additionally, the court Thursday also factored in Subahani Haja's past clean record, as well as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) not charging him with any 'specific overt acts' after his return from Iraq in 2015. New Delhi: Citing mitigating factors such as the possibility of reformation, the Kerala High Court has modified the life sentence of a former Islamic State (IS) operative to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The NIA had gathered intelligence inputs about a module of IS comprising around 15 individuals secretly working in southern states to collect explosives. Bhaja was arrested on 5 October 2016—two days after the NIA searched his rented accommodation and more than a year after he returned from Iraq via Turkey. He had left India in April 2015 and proceeded to join the terrorist outfit by entering Iraq through Turkey. But, he returned months later through the same route in September 2015. 'Applying the principles of law laid down in the aforementioned cases and having regard to the totality of facts and circumstance of this case, we are of the considered opinion that the ends of justice would meet, if we reduce the sentence of the appellant from imprisonment for life to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years, imposed under Section 20 of the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act),' the bench observed. 'The rest of the findings of the learned special judge are upheld.' Also Read: ED attaches Rs 29,176 from bank account used to receive ISIS funds for 2022 Mangaluru IED blast The charges To join the IS, Haja stayed in Istanbul for six days before crossing over to Syria and finally reaching Mosul. The NIA submitted conclusively that Haja was imparted 'religious training' for 25 days and 'weapon training' for 21 days. During his physical training, he fell onto the floor and injured his left knee severely, forcing him out of the battlefield. Owing to his injury, Haja was deployed as a security guard. During that duty, a shell exploded near him and two of his fellow fighters died, leading him to think about returning to India. He was detained by the IS and lodged in a prison for 54 days when he discussed with his 'amir' (boss) about his plan to return home. Later, he was released and returned through Istanbul. After that, Haja lived in a rented house in Chennai and worked as a computer operator in a jewellery shop. However, the NIA managed to provide evidence that the Kerala man tried to purchase explosive materials such as chlorate, phosphorus, sulphur and aluminium powder amounting to 50 kg each. Subsequently, the special court handed him life sentence in 2020, observing that 'normal methods of reformation will be ineffective for him.' 'As rightly pointed out by the learned public prosecutor, the convict has declared in no uncertain words that he wanted to be a 'Jihadi' in India, for certain reasons perceived by him. His attempt to procure precursor explosives in huge quantities, soon after reaching back from Iraq, is also a very disturbing fact, especially when a witness having scientific background opined that the said quantity was enough to devastate a large area,' it observed. Taking note of the convict's attempt to buy an American sniper rifle online, the special court mentioned that his release in a short period can enable an evil plan by him. On the other hand, the Kerala High Court observed a possibility of reformation in the convict, as well as a sense of repentance, and no criminal history, to curtail the life sentence to 10-year rigorous imprisonment. 'We have carefully considered the sentence imposed by the trial court, guided by the principles discussed above. No doubt, the offences committed by the appellant are of grave and serious nature. However, we have noticed certain mitigating circumstances: The appellant was aged 35 years at the time of the alleged commission of the offences,' it observed. 'No specific overt acts were alleged against the appellant after his return from Iraq, except an unsuccessful attempt to procure explosives. Repentance and the possibility of reformation of the accused. The absence of criminal antecedents,' it added. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Brothers held by NIA over Jiribam killings 'link', family says 'don't even have money to fight case'