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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Kalaburagi: Priyank Kharge, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, in a press conference at the Congress office in the city on Monday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is the director of the pen drive case involving JDS MP Prajwal Revanna.

Kharge also attacked the BJP for it's reluctance to condemn Prajwal Revanna's actions, instead opting to divert attention by calling for investigations into the video's release and pushing for a CBI inquiry.

He questioned the lack of action from the central government in safeguarding the dignity of the women involved and condemned its action of not yet canceling the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna.

Speaking on the limitations of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in handling the case, Kharge stressed the necessity for cooperation from the Centre to arrest Prajwal Revanna from abroad. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already reached out to the Centre regarding this matter.

Legislative council member Shakala Allamaprabhu Patil, Tippanappa Kamakanur, former minister Revunayaka Belamagi, Congress party's Jagadev Guttedar, Chairman of Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority Mazhar Alam Khan, and Eranna Jhalaki were present.