Khanna asks DMs to check issues related to children at pre-primary & other related places
PNS | DEHRADUN
The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) chairwoman Geeta Khanna has sent a letter to all the district magistrates in the State, asking them to inspect and address the alleged exploitation of children occurring in pre-primary schools and other child-related institutions.
Khanna informed that in the letter she emphasised to all the DMs that they must ensure that children should be placed in appropriate institutions (such as crèches or play schools) according to their age. She stressed that all educational institutions must adhere to the guidelines set by the government. Additionally, de-addiction centres should operate following established regulations.
Khanna informed that she has also called for inspections of coaching institutes, particularly residential coaching centres, to ensure compliance with regulations regarding hostels and other rules. Further, she instructed officials to ensure that Madarsas are registered and that illegal Madarsas or those built on private land undergo inspection.
She further informed that regarding child safety in public areas, such as parks and water bodies, she has proposed the necessary measures to the DMs. The measures include conducting security audits at major parks and public places, along with developing safe and child-friendly zones for children. Additionally, the authorities should implement CCTV surveillance and deploy trained security personnel, who should also receive training in first aid and life-saving techniques.
It will be recalled that recently Khanna expressed her concerns regarding pre-primary institutions that admit children at an age younger than the guidelines established by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which permits enrollment only for children aged three and older. In light of this situation, Arif Khan, president of the National Association for Parents and Student Rights (NAPSR), emphasised the need for the SCPCR to collaborate with the education department to form a monitoring committee dedicated to overseeing pre-primary schools.
