Bengaluru, Apr 30 (DHNS):The new Karnataka State Child Protection Policy fixes roles and responsibilities on 10 departments and agencies for child protection in educational institutions. According to the policy, which got the approval of the State Cabinet recently, each of the department and agencies will have to come out with notifications or circulars to discharge the roles and responsibilities specified for them.
The department identified are Women and Child Development, Education, Police, Karnataka Legal Services Authority, local bodies, Social Welfare, Labour, district administration, Transport and Information.
Nodal agency
The Women and Child Development department has been identified as the nodal agency to implement the policy, which among others, makes it mandatory for schools to constitute the Child Protection Committees (CPCs).
The Education department will have to monitor the constitution of CPCs and ensure they remain functional.
The Police department will have to put in place a mechanism for immediate response to complaints regarding child abuse. It will have to organise training programmes to police personnel to sensitise them on child safety violation and abuse.
According to the policy, the Karnataka Legal Services Authority will have to ensure that the child victim is provided with legal aid wherever required. The Social Welfare department will have to take steps to ensure that the child protection protocol is followed in all SC/ST, Backward Classes residential schools.
Punishment
The Labour department has to take steps to punish those employing child labour. It has been given the power to backlist or recommend cancellation of license of industries who exploit children.
The district administration has been given the responsibility of coordination between various departments and issue warning to institutions which do not install child safety measures.
The Transport department will have to review the implementation of the safety guidelines and standards in vehicles, in coordination with educational institutions.