Latest news with #KarnatakaStateCommissionforProtectionofChildRights
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- The Hindu
Officials must ensure protection of children, says KSCPCR chief
Ensuring the safety and protection of children is the foremost duty of all government officials, said chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) K. Naganna Gowda. He was speaking at a district-level progress review meeting at the Nazir Saab Hall of the Zilla Panchayat in Ballari on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the implementation of the Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act 2012 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015. The session was attended by commission members, officials from various departments at the district and taluk levels and heads of childcare institutions. Discussions centred on child-related programmes and their implementation status. Mr. Gowda stressed that all departments working in the field of child welfare must function in coordination to protect children's rights and to bring them into the mainstream. He emphasised the importance of collaborative action in ensuring that children receive the protection and care they deserve. Presenting data during the meeting, Child Protection Officer from the District Child Protection Unit Elenagappa said that between April 2024 and March 2025, a total of 123 child marriage cases have been prevented in the district. Of these, 11 actually took place and First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed in all the 11 cases, he said. In the period between April and May 2025, 45 cases of child marriage attempts have been recorded, while 11 have occurred. FIRs have been registered in four of those cases. Responding to the report, Mr. Gowda directed that whenever incidents of child marriage are identified, the authorities concerned must immediately visit the homes of the boy and girl involved. 'The officers should engage in meaningful counselling with parents, obtain a written undertaking and clearly inform them that marriage should only be conducted after the child turns 18. Officials from the local gram panchayat, including the Panchayat Development Officer, the Tahsildar, Executive Officers, and representatives from the Education, Health, Police and Child Protection departments must work together in these matters,' he said, directing the officials to file FIRs without any delay in cases where child marriage has occurred.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Time of India
Child begging poses a challenge in Kalyana Karnataka
Ballari: In the Kalyana Karnataka region, child begging remains a persistent challenge, despite awareness initiatives and strict legislation. Official data from the State Directorate of Child Rights indicates that 340 children were found begging over past four years. Kalaburagi recorded 123 cases, while Ballari had 77, Koppal 48, Bidar 47, Raichur 39, Yadgir 5, and Vijayanagar 1. The problem encompasses toddlers, minors, and children with disabilities who solicit alms in public spaces, often under the control of organised criminal networks. Shashidhar Kosambe of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights attributes the situation to administrative shortcomings in law enforcement. Commission member Shekargouda G Ramatnal acknowledged the efforts of the District Child Protection Units (DCPU) in child rescue operations. "However, some factions view begging as a business, complicating efforts to eliminate it," he remarked. Records show a notable rise in child begging incidents from 2021-22 to 2024-25 in the region. Despite existing protective legislation, inadequate implementation and rehabilitation schemes impede sustainable solutions. Koppal district child rights protection officer Mahantaswamy Pujar highlights the issue of begging activities at religious sites, such as Hulagi, and suggests that local authorities conduct surveillance to facilitate departmental intervention. He notes the absence of a rehabilitation centre in Koppal, requiring transportation to Ballari. The 'Karnataka Prohibition of Begging Act-1975' constitutes the primary legislative tool for addressing begging and rehabilitation. Departmental officials indicate that while the social welfare department holds direct responsibility for implementing the act, it seems to focus more on hostels than on taking action regarding this issue. Section 12 of the act prohibits begging, carrying a maximum of three years' imprisonment. Authorities discourage giving alms to beggars accompanied by children and encourage reporting such instances to child welfare hotlines. The public can also report incidents via the social welfare department's helpline (94823 00400). The govt has also allocated Rs 306.2 crore from 2021-22 to 2023-24 for relief centres and committees, plus approximately Rs 10-15 crore for awareness campaigns. However, the official recognition of 340 children begging suggests that the effect of these measures was limited.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- New Indian Express
More children falling prey to online sexual abuse in Karnataka
BENGALURU: A growing number of children in Karnataka are falling prey to online sexual exploitation and abuse, but most parents, teachers, and even government officials remain unequipped to handle or prevent such threats, a state-level study has found. Released by the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) in partnership with ChildFund India, the study, focused on online sexual exploitation and abuse of children, raises red flags about children's online safety, especially following the Covid pandemic, which, as per the findings, saw increased screen time and unsupervised internet use among children. The report was released on Friday by Basavaraj Horatti, Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council. The study covered 903 school-going children aged 8–18 years across five Karnataka districts Bengaluru, Chamarajanagar, Raichur, Chikkamagaluru and Belagavi using multi-stage random sampling. Six schools from each district were selected, and 30 students from each school were interviewed, spanning three age groups - 8–11, 12–14, and 15–18 years.
Deccan Herald
14-06-2025
- Deccan Herald
'77% of online threat cases kids reported involved Insta'
The pilot study 'Online Risks of Children in Karnataka, OSEAC (Focus on online sexual exploitation and abuse of children)' was conducted by ChildFund India in association with the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KCPCR).
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Karnataka parents raise alarm over rampant online child exposure & abuse
Bengaluru: Unchecked and unregulated online exposure has put the lives of children at peril, with online abuse, exploitation, bullying and forging forced online friendships emerging as tools of blackmailing children into submission. These were some of the takeaways from a study report launched by Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and child-focused development organisation ChildFund India, which examined online risks faced by children in five districts of Karnataka. At a state-level consultation on child safety here Friday, a class 10 student from Mysuru said, "We can't tell our friends or parents when morphed videos are used to blackmail us because of the stigma. We need counsellors in schools." The study, covering 900 children aged 8 to 18 years and conducted from Dec 2024 to March 2025, revealed alarming trends. For instance, 80% of parents interviewed said police must respond more promptly to cases of online abuse, especially when it involves coercion or exploitation. Among the children surveyed, 31 said they met online strangers in person, several connected with people online in the hope of forming friendships. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo In cases of online sexual exploitation and abuse, the report found that 19 of 44 affected students were bullied, 18 were sexually coerced, and in 22 cases, parents responded by deleting social media accounts. However, only 15 informed law-enforcement authorities. Despite existing structures such as special juvenile police units (SJPUs), stakeholders at the discussion admitted that child-friendly stations remain on paper. Child-friendly stations have not been implemented, said a police officer, adding, "There are SOPs in place and helplines like 1930, but awareness has to come from other departments too." Legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti asked police personnel to share with the public the Pocso case data and action taken. Education department officials proposed printing remedial measures on textbook covers, while IT-BT officials called for app bans and awareness campaigns through state media like Doordarshan. One official from the science and technology department said even conferences on topics like quantum computing that the govt hosts could be used to spread awareness about cybercrimes affecting children. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
