Latest news with #KarnatakaStateCommissionforProtectionofChildRights
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Time of India
Gone girls
. The number of child kidnappings in Karnataka is witnessing a surge, with official data revealing that 12,790 children were kidnapped across the state between 2020 and 2024. Disturbingly, 1,334 of these children remain untraced, and authorities have yet to provide concrete answers about their whereabouts.A majority of these cases involve girl children. Children heading out for tuition classes or other regular activities have gone missing without a trace—leaving families shattered and police struggling for Urban district ranks highest in the state for child abductions, while districts in southern Karnataka dominate the top 10 list, including Tumakuru, Shivamogga, Mandya, Davanagere, Hassan, Chitradurga, and Mysuru. Although both the state and central governments have constituted special task forces to trace missing children, the growing number of unsolved cases points to deeper systemic attribute the crisis to several socio-economic and psychological factors. The fast-paced modern world is drawing children toward the outside world at younger ages. Poverty, teenage love affairs, academic pressure, and emotional instability are pushing some children to run away from home. Many fall prey to criminal networks involved in human trafficking, child labour, organ trade, prostitution, and forced begging. There are strong suspicions that a large trafficking network may be operating behind these the total reported cases, 9,261 are girl children, with 972 still unaccounted for. Among boys, 3,529 were reported missing, and 362 remain untraced. The state's overall percentage of untraced children stands at 10.43%.Child rights advocates stress on the need for multi-departmental coordination to protect children and track down missing cases effectively. 'As per the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, protecting children is a paramount duty. Every child deserves a safe, respectful life within the family and society until the age of 18. The government and related departments must treat these cases with the seriousness they deserve,' said a member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. He urged society to empathise with affected families and demanded stronger institutional action to prevent further tragedies.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Awareness campaign launched to eliminate child marriage in Chamarajanagar district
In a move to eliminate child marriage, the Chamarajanagar district administration has launched an awareness campaign, with the goal of declaring the district 'child marriage-free' by November 14 – Children's Day. Under the campaign, the administration is involving prominent personalities including film actors, sportspersons, and community leaders to draw public support. As part of the initiative, a mega walkathon and pledge-taking ceremony will be held on Friday, starting at 8 a.m. from Sri Chamarajeshwara Temple. The event will feature World Cup kho-kho player Chaitra, actor Ganesh Rao from Hondarabalu village, eight State-level athletes, Venkatesh, a member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, as well as students, senior government officials, volunteers, and representatives from various NGOs. The walkathon route will pass through Pachappa Circle, Santhemarahalli Circle, and the KSRTC Bus Stand, concluding at the Tourist Bungalow. All 130 Gram Panchayats in the district have been instructed to actively participate in the drive to end child marriage. Grassroots-level activities such as Children's Gram Sabhas, and initiatives through the School Development Committees, Child Welfare Committees, and Balvikas (Child Development) Committees are being implemented to raise awareness at the village level. Individuals and organisations making significant contributions to this cause will be recognised and honored on the occasion of Children's Day, a press release stated. Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag said, 'Eliminating child marriage requires a united effort from all sections of society with the support from all the departments.' We urge every individual to join hands and support the ongoing awareness initiatives, she added.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Chikkamagaluru DHO issues notices to doctors for referring patients to private scanning centres
The District Health Officer (DHO) has issued notices to two doctors at the district hospital in Chikkamagaluru seeking responses with regard to allegations of referring patients to private scanning centres and insisting them to purchase medicines from private medical shops. The DHO issued notices on Thursday following the surprise visit by members of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Shashidhar Kosambe and Thippeswamy, members of the commission, visited the hospital on Wednesday. During their visit, they interacted with the public about the services available. Many patients reportedly told the members that Puttappa and Pandurangaiah, both obstetrician-gynaecologists, referred patients to get scanning done in private centres and also insisted that they purchase medicine from private shops. The commission members questioned the necessity of referring patients to private scanning centres when a radiologist and scanning equipment were available at the district hospital. They also wondered why patients should purchase medicine outside when there was a sufficient stock in the hospital. Based on the commission's observation, the DHO has issued notices to both the doctors, asking them to give a written response within seven days. Nursing homes Similarly, the DHO has issued notices to two private nursing homes, Lakshmi Medicare on Market Road and Prashanthi Hospital at Shankarapura, for failing to follow the norms as per the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994. The commission members and officers of the Health Department visited these centres on Wednesday and noticed discrepancies in displaying the rate chart, maintaining records, besides violating the norms with respect to the size of the scanning room. The scanning centres have been asked to give written responses within three days. Besides, the DHO has issued a notice to District Family Welfare Officer Shashikala M. for failing to ensure the private scanning centres follow the norms strictly.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- The Hindu
Child rights commission expresses shock over lack of action relating to children's safety in residential schools
The officers of Shivamogga district had a tough time answering the chairperson and the members of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights during a review meeting in Shivamogga on Tuesday. The members of the commission, at one point, expressed shock over the lack of action with regard to the safety of children in residential schools and opined that they were disappointed with the implementation of the Karnataka State Child Protection Policy 2016. The review meeting was convened under the commission's chairperson, K. Naggan Gowda. He and the members reviewed the responsibilities and schemes handled by various departments, including women and child development, education, social welfare, and health. While reviewing the children's safety measures in residential schools, the members raised the issue of alleged child sexual abuse reported in a hostel in the district a few months ago. A watchman posted at the hostel allegedly sexually abused several girls in the hostel. The officers of the Social Welfare Department failed to furnish details on the action taken against the staff members, whose negligence led to the crime. Unsatisfied with the response, the members took the officer to task. They opined that they were under the impression that in Shivamogga, being one of the developed districts, the rights of children were well protected. However, the actual situation was opposite. The officers of the Health Department did not have data related to surprise inspections at scanning centres, stillbirths, immunisation among children aged above 10, among other issues. The members felt that the officers had come with no preparations for the meeting. Many officers failed to answer questions related to their responsibilities as per the child protection policy and the provisions of the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Deputy Commissioner Gurudatt Hegde, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer N. Hemanth, members of the commission Shashidhar Kosambe, Thippeswamy K.T., S. Manju, Venkatesh, and Aparna M. Kolla were present.
