mangalore today

PADI urges MLAs and MLC to convert DK to a child-friendly district


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sept 2, 2018: Padi-Valored, an NGO working towards the child rights urged the district in-charge minister, MLAs and MLC to convert Dakshina Kannada to a child-friendly district.

During the silver jubilee celebration of Padi-Valored here on Sept 1,  Saturday, Padi Director Renny D’Souza handed over a memorandum to MLC Ivan D’Souza in the absence of district in-charge Minister U T Khader.


Padi silver jubilee celebration


Padi silver jubilee celebration


Padi silver jubilee celebration


Padi silver jubilee celebration


In the memorandum, Padi-Valored said that an action plan to convert the district into a child-friendly should be prepared by involving all the departments and various organisations working for the welfare of children. Community participation in the education sector should be promoted for better quality education. There is a need to create awareness on child rights and laws related to children. Space should be given for the construction of building for training centre of the Padi, he said.

As per the aspiration of the Right to Education Act, subject-wise teachers should be recruited for every school. The authorities should also bring it to the notice of the government on recruiting physical education teachers. A child counsellors should be recruited to each taluk, the memorandum said.

Accepting the memorandum, MLC Ivan D’Souza said that the district could be converted to a child-friendly district and promised to extend all the support.

Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) former chairman Kripa Amar Alva said that the child rights are violated in the cities by making children in the age-group of four to seven stand outside the school gate for reaching the school late.

Narrating an incident that occurred in a school on Hosur Main Road in Bengaluru two weeks ago, she said, "The school starts at 8.25 am. The vehicle ferrying the students arrived five minutes late. A parent who had arrived at the school to hand over the tiffin to the child saw children standing outside the gate. On enquiry, it was revealed that the children reached the school late. When the parent appealed to the school authorities to allow the children inside the classroom, they did not budge. Later, a police complaint was filed and the children were let in at 9.45 am," Kripa Alva explained.

However, later the said parent was summoned to the school where he was manhandled by one of the teachers, she said.

She said that incidents of female foeticide are less in DK. The parents and society should discharge their duties effectively in connection with the protection of child rights.

District Legal Services Authority Member-Secretary Mallanagouda Patil spoke on the importance of child rights.

‘Makkala Hakkugala Ranga Kalothsava’, a cultural fest on child rights, was held on the occasion. Children’s teams ‘Belaku’, ‘Kalasiri’, ‘Samsara’, ‘Isiri’, ‘Kanasu’ and ‘Makkala Hejje’ from Kundapur, Puttur, Belthangadi, Bantwal and Sullia respectively performed skits as a part of the fest.