BENGALURU, JULY 3: The Chief Secretary to the State Government Mr T M Vijay Bhaskar asked Officers to create an environment for EASE OF JOINING SCHOOLS, on the lines of EASE OF DOING BUSINESS, for admission of children into schools.

Addressing the State-level Inter-Departmental High Power Committee on bringing drop-outs back to school  here on Wednesday, the schools should not demand Aadhar Cards, Ration Cards, Birth Certificates, Caste Certificates and Transfer Certificates and terrorize the parents, unnecessarily, but admit the children first, give adequate time to get the testimonials and complete the formalities in due course. This will improve and increase the school admissions of children belonging to the downtrodden, underprivileged and weaker sections of society.

The Chief Secretary strictly instructed officers to take necessary action to provide admission to children for the children, belonging to the migratory labour, all through the academic year. He said, Government schools cannot deny admission to any child, any time in the academic year in the interest of the future of such children. Mr Vijay Bhaskar asked the labour department to get free passes in public transport to the children of the migratory labour  to go to the schools. Also, it is the duty of the contractors, to ferry the children of their labour force to the nearest schools. he said,

Mr Vijay Bhaskar asked the Department of Women and Child Development to conduct a survey at night, on the lines of census, especially in Bengaluru to assess the actual number of children, who are school dropouts and who take shelter at bus stations, below the flyovers  or on the benches of parks, in the month of August.

The Department of Education has identified 70,000 children between the age group of six years to 18 years, as school drop outs according to its Students Achievement Tracking System. The only drawback in this system is a student, who has never enrolled cannot be tracked. Presently, the criteria for drop out is considered, when the student absents himself or herself from school for more than 60 days.  The trustee of CIVIC, an Non-Governmental Organisation working for the welfare of children for a better life, Ms Kathyayini Chamaraj, suggested that the terminology for drop-out should be changed into successive absence for seven days instead of the present 60 days from school. This will prevent the drop-out rate, significantly. Also, children who are irregular to school should be monitored and the authorities should take steps to ensure their presence at the school, she opined.

The Additional Chief Secretary to Government and Development Commissioner Ms Vandita Sharma, the Principal Secretary to Government in the Department of Primary and Secondary Education Mr S R Uma Shankar, the Principal in the Department of Planning Dr Shalini Rajneesh, the Secretary to Government in the Department of Backward Classes Mr Mohammed Mohsin, the Commissioner of Public Instruction Dr P C Jaffer were part of the meeting.

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Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The state Assembly on Tuesday passed 12 bills, including the Karnataka Rent (Amendment) Bill.

The objects and reasons of the Rent Bill said that it has been introduced to achieve the principle of "Minimum Government Maximum Governance" by decriminalisation minor offences and rationalization of monetary penalties as envisaged in the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of provisions) Act, 2023.

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The amendment says that if any landlord or tenant fails to present copy of the lease agreement for registration as required under clauses (a) or (b) of sub-section (3) of Section 4 or fails to file the particulars as required under the proviso thereto, he shall on conviction be punishable with a fine up to Rs 2,000 or with simple imprisonment for a month or both. The same is applicable to middlemen involved in it.

The other bills that were cleared are the Karnataka Land Revenue (Second Amendment) Bill, The Greater Bengaluru Governance (Second Amendment) Bill, Sri Malai Mahadeshwaraswamy Kshethra Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, The Chandraguthi Shree Renukamba Kshetra Development Authority Bill and Shree Chamundeshwari Kshetra Development Authority and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill.

The Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) (Amendment) Bill, Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment (Amendment) Bill, Karnataka State Universities (Second Amendment) Bill, Bayaluseeme Development Board (Amendment) Bill and Malnad Area Development Board (Amendment) Bill were also cleared.