Bengaluru: The Chief Secretary to the State Government 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 down trodden, 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. 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.

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 drop outs 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, a Non-Governmental Organisation working for the welfare of children for better life, 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 Vandita Sharma, the Principal Secretary to Government in the Department of Primary and Secondary Education 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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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Saturday targeted the Congress government in the state alleging the collapse of the law and order situation and raised concerns about the safety of women, while urging the Siddaramaiah-led administration to "wake up" and take immediate measures in this regard.

He also reiterated the party's demand that the state government hand over the probe relating to cases of sexual abuse of women against Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna to the CBI.

"From the time Congress came to power in the state, the law and order situation has completely deteriorated. Murders and extortions are taking place everywhere. There is rise in rape and love jihad cases. There are questions about women's security," Vijayendra said.

While speaking to reporters here, he said, the deteriorating law and order situation is bringing disrepute to the state.

"There is a sense as though there is no government here and the police system is not functioning. As the government is not taking stringent measures, murders are on a rise in Karnataka. So we have held a protest across the state.

"It is already late now, we urge that the government should wake up at least now and discharge its duty of maintaining law and order, and take measures to give protection to women," he added.

Protests were held by the mahila morcha (women's wing) of BJP across the state today and memorandums were submitted to Deputy Commissioners in all districts. In Bengaluru a delegation led by senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda submitted a memorandum to Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Mohan.

The BJP's stand is very clear regarding cases involving Prajwal Revanna and charges of sexual abuse of women against him, Vijayendra, in response to a question, said and added that the state government has to take the issue seriously and handover the probe to the CBI.

"Every day new things are coming forward in this case. So I demand that without any delay the Hassan's Prajwal Revanna cases should be given to the CBI probe. Why is the government hesitant? Names of several senior leaders are also being heard in connection with the cases, and leak of alleged explicit videos. There cannot be fair probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT)," he said.

The BJP is not supporting anyone in connection with these cases and only wants justice for women victims, Vijayendra said, adding that "Instead of using the cases politically, government should immediately hand over them to the CBI aimed at providing justice for women victims...there is no question of any party here, it (alleged sexual abuse) was a henious crime, whoever is guilty, however big they are, they should be punished."

The state BJP chief was responding to party leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda, who is in custody after being arrested in a sexual abuse case and is also facing charges of video leak, on Friday alleged that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and four other ministers are behind the circulation of pen drives containing explicit videos involving Prajwal Revanna, and that he was being fixed in false cases as he did not agree to be part of their plan.

Gowda has even alleged that he was offered Rs 100 crore by Shivakumar to "bring a bad name" to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and to tarnish the image of JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy in Prajwal Revanna's obscene video case.