Mangalore, Jul 9: After demitting their office on Wednesday, the chairperson and members of the Child Welfare Committee, Dakshina Kannada announced that they had laid down their office following the end of their term to make way for the appointment of a new committee.
Briefing mediapersons at a press conference here on Wednesday, advocate Asha Nayak, after stepping down as the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, said that the committee had handled a total of 1,138 cases dealing with children, out of which 1,121 cases have been settled. With 17 cases pending before the committee, the rate of pendency is very less. A total sum of Rs 7.15 lakhs has been given as sponsorship for education to 125 child beneficiaries through the Integrated Child Protection Society, she said.
Speaking of cases of sexual abuse, she said that over 50 cases of sexual abuse had been handled by the CWC under the Protection of Children under Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) which involved rehabilitation, counseling, protection and care of the children.
During the tenure of three years and nine months, 37 children have been adopted through certain government-recognised adoption agencies in the district, she said.
Relating few incidents that had cropped up during her term, she said that more awareness regarding child rights was necessary so that crimes against children could be avoided or brought to the fore.
The CWC had also had collaboration with Yenepoya Medical College at Deralakatte for providing the required health care for rescued children perennially. The collaboration with a medical institution was the first of its kind, she said.
Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014
Replying to a query on the proposed Juvenile Justice Bill, 2014, Mrs Nayak said that the Bill was an innovative legal Act, with several changes in the nomenclature and terminology related to crimes by and against minors. However, the policy that the chairperson should be a government-appointed official or a bureaucrat is not feasible, since the chairperson had to be present during all CWC proceedings. It will not serve the cause, she said.
She added that advocate Nikesh Shetty had been appointed as the new chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee.
Former CWC members Lavanya Shetty, Dr Suphala Kotian and Manjula Rao were present on the occasion.
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