Public Urged to Fight Against Violation of Child Rights
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Mar 25: Lack of awareness regarding child rights has led to a considerable increase in the number of violations against children in Dakshina Kannada district, said Dr Nina Nayak, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, while speaking at an interaction organized by the Journalists’ Study Centre at Sahodaya here on Friday March 25.

Urging the public to be aware of steps that can stop violation of children’s rights, she revealed that complaints of children’s rights violation are mounting day by day.

The commission has received as many as 24 complaints in the district since July 2009, including the rape of a 13-year-old Dalit girl and Kavoor police locking up a minor boy overnight for a trivial reason.
 
She also explained the commission's plans to train doctors and hospital staff in this regard.

She lamented that violation of child rights has increased due to police apathy and failure to bring violators to book.

As much as 60% of the violations of children’s rights cases reported in the state are of sexual abuse type, she said. She urged the parents of the victimised children to approach the justice system unhesitatingly in order to report violations.
 
Hilda Rayappan, head of Prajna Counselling Centre blamed the administration for not releasing funds for anganwadis under the Juvenile Justice Act on time.
 
Child Rights activist Renni D'Souza said that despite the presence of several child welfare organisations in the district, cases of child trafficking and illegal adoption are rampant. He said that the organisations have failed to coordinate and have not been able to check cases of violation.

Dr Madhu of the KSCPCR and chairperson of child welfare committee Asha Nayak were also present.