Fri Feb 21 17:58:48 UTC 2025: ## Child Protection Takes Center Stage at Mysuru Workshop
**Mysuru, Karnataka, February 21, 2025** – A one-day workshop in Mysuru underscored the crucial role of all stakeholders in protecting children and enforcing relevant laws. Organized by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in collaboration with various government agencies and the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the event brought together district and taluk-level officers from across the Mysuru division.
B.G. Dinesh Kumar, member secretary of the DLSA, stressed that child protection is a collective responsibility. He highlighted the importance of enforcing laws like the Right to Education Act, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Beggary Act. While acknowledging the humanitarian basis of these laws, he emphasized that effective enforcement hinges on the commitment of those responsible for implementation. He urged proactive measures to prevent child marriage, begging, and sexual violence, stating that inaction constitutes a crime.
K. Naganna Gowda, president of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, discussed the powers vested in various officials to prevent child marriages, noting that despite these powers, such incidents persist. He outlined ongoing efforts to combat child marriage with the assistance of ASHA, Anganwadi, and school teachers. Both speakers also expressed concern over the increased pressure on children to excel academically, coupled with inadequate communication from parents and a focus solely on academics from teachers. This, they said, has led to excessive screen time among children, particularly exacerbated by the rise of online classes post-COVID-19.
The workshop, held at the KSOU auditorium, was attended by the Regional Commissioner D.S. Ramesh, the Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka State Open University, Prof. Sharannappa V. Halse, Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Jahnavi, and other officials.
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