A raid conjures up images of vehicles at top speed, brakes screeching, officials scampering; in other words, there is a sense of urgency. Then there is the raid done by the members of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR). These raids involve autos and buses. Officials flag down an auto, haggle with the driver over the fare, to conduct their surprise raid. Sometimes, members just head to the bus-stop to catch a bus. It may be hard to believe but it is true.
The KSCPCR is a monitoring agency which registers and inquires cases of child rights violation under the Child Rights Protection Act, RTE violation cases and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO Act) cases. But so woeful is the condition of the KSCPCR that members aren’t paid any salary. They also have no vehicles to conduct surprise raids, even though it gets numerous complaints relating to RTE violations at schools and cases relating to child abuse. If members want to conduct a raid, they have to hop on a bus or take an auto (Members are given a travel allowance (TA) of Rs 2 per/km for travelling in an auto). The carelessness has meant that members are disillusioned and utterly fed-up.
The commission has six members, with each member given the responsibility of monitoring 5 to 6 districts. But with no vehicles and no permission to hire a vehicle, the commission has been rendered toothless. Though the members are appointed by the government, except the chairperson other members aren’t entitled to any facilities.
“I have been assigned six districts. I need to visit the district whenever there is a complaint. But we have no vehicles in order to visit or conduct a raid. Every time we depend upon public transport, there is delay in taking action. Strangely, we have permission to hire a vehicle if all six of us are going to attend to a particular case, which, of course, never happens,” said Shivaraje Gowda, member of the KSCPCR.
“Though the commission is a quasi-judicial body, the government has not given any status to the members,” he said.
Another member B Anuradha said they are paid Rs1,500 to attend meetings organised by the commission. “No facilities or remuneration are given other than Rs 1,500. We were appointed without defining our role and responsibility. So we urged the government to amend the rule and define our roles so that we could function effectively.”
She said the government’s indifference was discouraging the members. “We came with lot of expectations. But government is not supporting us,” she said.
Making a mockery
The KSCPCR was setup in 2008. It’s first chairperson and members were appointed in 2009
It is a monitoring agency which registers cases of child rights violation, RTE violation cases and POCSO cases
The commission is functioning with one chairperson and the 6 members for a term of 3 years
Members have no vehicles to conduct surprise raids. They need to take autos or buses for conducting raids and inspections
Except the chairperson, commission members get no salary, nor are they entitled to any facilities
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