Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Nov 14: In a concerning revelation, around 40% of gram panchayats (GP) in Karnataka do not have fully functional Women and Child Protection Committees (WCC) or Education Task Forces, according to recent findings.

These committees play a crucial role in identifying cases of child marriage, teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, child labour, and child abuse. However, many panchayats either have not formed the committees or the existing ones are not functioning, resulting in such cases going unnoticed.

Karnataka has approximately 6,000 gram panchayats, each covering three to four villages. To address rising cases of child-related violations, the women and child development department established these committees in 2019.

The Women and Child Protection Committee, typically chaired by the panchayat president, consists of 13 members including two women panchayat members, a woman school teacher, the beat police officer, village accountant, NGO representative, Anganwadi worker, self-help group member, two students, and a Panchayat development member.

In 2020, a 12-member Education Task Force was also set up, comprising Panchayat administrators and heads of primary, secondary, and high schools within the panchayat limits. Their main responsibility includes ensuring school enrolment of children.

However, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) chairperson K T Tippeswamy told The New Indian Express that 40% of panchayats have either not formed these committees or the committees are inactive, with members unaware of their responsibilities.

Tippeswamy has written to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj commissioner highlighting the issue. Following this, the commissioner has directed chief executive officers of various zilla panchayats to ensure proper functioning of these committees.