Bengaluru urban district most unsafe in state for children: Karnataka child rights index
Bengaluru: Bengaluru Urban has been ranked the most unsafe district for children in the state, according to a recent report by Child Rights Index of Karnataka.
The report, cited by Deccan Herald on Friday, was prepared by researchers S. Madheswaran and B. P. Vani from the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) in collaboration with the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The study is based on child labour, child marriage, teenage pregnancy and crimes against children. Bengaluru’s poor performance, the report notes, is largely linked to the vulnerabilities associated with its rapidly expanding urban environment.
Other districts that fared poorly on child protection include Kolar, Vijayapura, Gadag and Belagavi. In contrast, Kodagu and Udupi were identified as the safest districts for children.
The report was prepared considering six indicators: Right to life, right to enabling environment to live, right to nutrition, protection, education and participation.
Best performing districts without including the participation index (since it varies for urban and rural areas) are Udupi, Mandya, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Bengaluru Rural, the report added.
The study also highlights a sharp concentration of crimes against children in Bengaluru. The district recorded the highest crime rate in the state, followed by Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkaballapur and Ramanagar.
Alarmingly, the crime rate against children in Bengaluru is eight times higher than the average across other districts.
Meanwhile, nutrition indicators continue to raise concern, with over 70% of children in seven districts, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region, found to be anaemic. In Mysuru and parts of the Bengaluru divisions, the prevalence ranged between 50% and 60%.
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SC slams freebies culture, says states should open avenues for employment
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
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The bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such largesse.
