Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) conducted a district review meeting to assess the child rights situation in Ramanagara on 14 -15 February 2021 in the presence of the local district administration.
On 14 February, along with the Chairperson-KSCPCR, Dr. Antony Sebastian and KSCPCR members Sri. Parasuram and Sri. Shankarappa; Sri CV Raman, Deputy Director-Dept. Women & Child Welfare (DWCD), Sri. Mahadevayya, Head Master and teachers of GLPS- Eruligara doddi, President and members of Makali Gram Panchayat, District Child Protection Unit staff, ASHA workers and Anganwadi teachers were also present for the community review in Eruligara doddi village of Makali gram panchayat, Channapatna taluk.
Members of the local CREAM Child Rights Clubs (CRC) federation, Ms. Preeti and Mahalaxmi started the programme with a prayer song. Sri. Ravi, CREAM Coordinator in Ramanagara, briefly explained the objectives of the meeting. Some of the issues and concerns raised during the interaction were the following: A villager, Sri. Ningayya reported that during the last six-month period, four child marriages in the village have come to his knowledge. The Anganwadi teacher expressed concern that there were five malnourished children in the village.
The village has an education facility until class 5 but lacks proper transport facilities to encourage children to continue their high school in other villages. Only 12 of 36 enrolled high school students were regular to school. Many children were irregular to school because they were engaged in brick kilns, sheep rearing, and agricultural work with their parents, as well as being influenced by their peers. It was observed that children/ parents do not show interest in education beyond the 10th class.
The villagers observed that the appropriate officers do not visit the village regularly. The children notified KSCPCR that a Makkala Grama Sabha had not yet been conducted in Makali gram panchayat. Members of the CREAM CRC federation, Ramanagara submitted a memorandum to the KSCPCR regarding the following issues:
- Effective implementation of child marriage prohibition laws and strict punishment for the people involved
- Educational scholarship and support for orphan/semi-orphan children
- Compulsory and proper implementation of Makkala Grama Sabhas as per the government circular.
On 15 February, during the meeting with the district administration namely, Education department, DWCD, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Zilla Panchayat, Labour department, Special Juvenile Police Unit, Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board, and CHILDLINE, the issues reported in the villages were further discussed and the concerned departments were requested to take action within 15 days.
