Fitness condition of tuition centres to be reviewed in Kozhikode
There have been widespread complaints that unsafe buildings and semi-permanent sheds are being converted into tuition centres under the guise of self-employment initiatives. Despite repeated warnings, many operators continue to ignore safety regulations and fail to shift to safer facilities. The new committees, to be formed by local administrators, will closely examine such violations and submit detailed reports to the district administration.
Child protection committees will oversee the process within the jurisdiction of various local bodies, based on directives from the district administration. In addition to assessing the fitness of the buildings, the committees will also examine registration details to ensure proper compliance. According to officials, tuition centres found to be unauthorised or structurally unfit will be shut down once the review is complete.
Heads of local self-government bodies have said that registration is mandatory for all tuition centres under the Panchayat Raj Act. Those failing to comply with the rules will face strict action. Provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act will also be invoked against erring operators, they warned.
'There were clear instructions from the district administration nearly five months ago for all tuition centres to assess their infrastructure and implement necessary improvements. However, some have shown negligence and failed to act,' said a member of a local Child Protection Committee who had earlier raised the issue. He added that several tuition centres accommodating large numbers of students lack even basic toilet facilities.
Meanwhile, some tuition centre operators have voiced concerns over the tightening of regulations, claiming it will adversely affect the livelihoods of many educated youth who launched self-employment ventures with minimal investment. Treating tuition centres like 'industrial ventures' should be discouraged, especially when many jobless youngsters see them as a last resort to earn a living, they said.
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