Many schools fail to display child helpline numbers on their premises | Hubballi News
Hubballi: The children’s 24×7 free helpline, established in 1998-99, has not yet reached govt and private schools in the state. Although it was instructed to publicise the helpline in all school premises and on websites in 2022, the circular has only remained on paper. Now, the department has taken steps to display the helpline number 1098 on school walls.Sangamesh Babaleshwar, president of the Karnataka Bal Vikas Academy, observed that only some schools, especially Karnataka public schools, have displayed the helpline number. “Whenever we visit, we instruct the headmasters and teachers to display the board, which costs a very meagre expense. It should be displayed right from anganwadis to PU colleges, where students aged below 18 years study. These displays are aimed at sensitising parents too,” he added.Anjali Ramanna, a juvenile rights advocate in Bengaluru, said that a lack of coordination and networking among departments results in such violations. “Not only in the subject matter but also in various issues pertaining to the protection of children, which is almost a deception in the state. And for any such implementation, the education department must release the budget,” she commented.Shankar Halagatti, editor of ‘Gubbachhi Gudu’, a children’s monthly, commented that it’s an instance to understand how the govt and its departments function. “Nowadays, many atrocities on children, especially girls, are taking place within the schools, and in some cases, the school staff are accused. According to the rules, a child protection committee should be formed in every school with parents and teachers. The irony is that many teachers and officials are unaware of these rules. There is a need for an audit of such committees and the implementation of existing rules.”According to the circular dated June 26, commissioner of public instruction KV Trilokchandra said that apart from display, there should be an orientation about the helpline during the morning assembly every day. “We have also instructed DDPIs and BEOs to ensure that all pages of textbooks and notebooks have a seal of the helpline — 1098,” he added.
