Intro: Special drives successfully rescued and rehabilitated 22 child labourers and 13 children involved in begging.
Kalaburagi
Deputy Commissioner Ikram Sharief has directed the district administration, police and Women and Child Development Department to adopt strict and coordinated measures to eliminate child marriage, child labour, child begging and POCSO offences in Kalaburagi district.
Sharief issued the directions while chairing a meeting of the District-Level Child Monitoring Committee, District Child Welfare Committee, Chief Minister’s Child Service Scheme and PM CARES for Children District Monitoring Committee at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Officials have also prevented the child marriages of 80 girls and one boy. Of the 293 complaints received through the Child Helpline, 285 have been resolved, while 198 children have been safely handed over to their parents.
The Deputy Commissioner directed health officials to mandatorily register medico-legal cases when pregnancies involving minors are detected in hospitals. He also instructed authorities to initiate FIRs using information available through the RCH portal and Mother and Child Protection Card.
District Superintendent of Police Atthur Srinivasulu said investigations into POCSO cases were being expedited and charge sheets were being filed within 60 days.
Sharief instructed officials to inspect government and voluntary children’s homes every month, checking sanitation, security and basic infrastructure, and submit regular reports.
The meeting was informed that children affected by POCSO cases and child marriages, children of HIV-positive parents and others in distress were receiving assistance under various welfare schemes. Under the sponsorship programme, eligible children below 18 receive Rs 4,000 monthly, while pregnant minors receive Rs 6,000.
Children in childcare institutions are also being provided free admission to Social Welfare Department residential schools. Youth completing 18 years receive Rs 3,500 monthly under the Uskara scheme, while 19 girls are supported through aftercare homes for degree education, nursing and tailoring training.
Sharief directed officials to expedite pending Juvenile Justice Board cases and warned of strict legal action against violations of children’s rights.
Quote
71 child marriage cases, 22 child labour cases, 16 POCSO cases and 14 child begging cases had been registered in the district so far. Special drives resulted in the rescue and rehabilitation of 22 child labourers and 13 children involved in begging.
- V. Manjula Patil, District Child Protection Unit Officer
Highlights the meeting
- Distressed children receive welfare assistance.
- Monthly sponsorship ranges from Rs 4,000.
- Free residential school admission provided.
- Uskara scheme supports youth at 18.
- Sharief ordered expedited Juvenile Justice cases.
