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The Hindu
01-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
‘Increasing number of orphans, abandoned children being institutionalised in Child Care Centres not a good sign'
'Every year in the State, the number of orphans and abandoned children getting institutionalised in government and private Child Care Centres is increasing. This is not a good sign,' said Arundhati, programme manager, Directorate of Child Protection, Karnataka. Speaking on the 'Status of the Family Based Care in Karnataka' during a 'Consultation on Family-Based Care and Nurturing for Children in Karnataka,' here on Friday, Ms. Arundhati said there are 711 child care institutions in the State, including 108 government Bala Mandiras. Currently, there are about 19,000 to 20,000 children in these institutions. Of these, 350 are adoptable children in the 'Orphan Abandonment Surrendered' (OAS) category. The rest are in the No-Visitation or Unfit Guardian category , she said. 'According to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2025, institutionalisation of children shall be a last resort. But we are promoting institutionalisation without properly understanding the Act. As per the rules, children registered with the Child Welfare Committee and the Children's Welfare Board should be re-integrated with their families as a first priority. If there is no family, they can be re-integrated with the extended family. If this is not possible, steps should be taken to provide them with a permanent family through adoption. When none of this is possible, arrangements should be made for them in Foster Care Family. We all need to work more in this regard,' she said. 'There is a good response to adoption in the State. However, the public is not showing much interest in becoming foster care parents for children above six years,' she said, adding that no one is coming forward to adopt or foster care for special needs children. 'This year, already 70 children have been given to foster care. Currently, there are 150 children identified for foster care in the State. Out of these, 61 are in immediate placement, all of whom are in the special needs category. Of the remaining 89 children, six are in the normal, 61 in the no-visitation, and 22 are in the unfit guardian category. After consulting with the children, 67 children are ready to be given to foster care, and 129 prospective foster parents have registered to receive the children in the District Child Protection Committees. However, none of them have come forward to take in special needs children,' she lamented. Further, she explained that there are no proper guidelines or rules for foster children completing 18 years of age, and steps have been taken to make separate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in this regard. However, the recently amended Juvenile Justice Act has allowed the same parents to adopt the child if the child has been in the foster family for more than two years, she added. K. Naganna Gowda, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said, 'Children are the asset of the country, and the care and upbringing of abandoned children is the responsibility of all of us. A family atmosphere should be created for those children in Child Care Centers. There is a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner in all districts. It should take an appropriate action to ensure the safety and protection of these children.' The programme was jointly organised by the KSCPCR and India Alternative Care Network at Institute for Social and Economic Change.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
Rly child helpdesk inaugurated at Indrali railway stn
Udupi: On the occasion of International Child Helpline Day , a Railway child helpdesk was inaugurated on Saturday at Indrali railway station under the supervision of the District Child Protection Unit, Udupi. The initiative is jointly supported by the Directorate of Child Protection, Bengaluru, district administration, zilla panchayat, District Legal Services Authority, and District Child Protection Unit, Udupi. The desk was inaugurated by deputy commissioner K Vidya Kumari. She said that some destitute children use railway stations and trains to travel to different places in search of shelter and livelihood. These children, when they arrive at platforms, often face neglect, abuse, humiliation, and exploitation. Lacking proper support, they suffer from various health issues and are deprived of their childhood. She said that it is everyone's responsibility to rescue such children, rehabilitate them, and help them build a better future. To assist and rescue runaway children or those separated from families, the 24/7 Child Helpline numbers 1098/112 are operational. She urged the public to make calls to these helplines to report children in distress, such as those begging, addicted to substances, or victims of violence, sexual abuse, and educational neglect. SP Arun K, senior civil judge and member secretary of District Legal Services Authority Yogesh PR, chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee Juhi Damodar, deputy director of the women and child development department Shyamala CK and district child protection officer Nagaratna Nayak were present.
