Karnataka forms district-level task force to trace missing children, curb trafficking
Bengaluru: In a much-needed move to address the growing concern over child trafficking and missing children cases, the Karnataka government has constituted district-level special task forces (STFs) to trace and rescue missing and abducted children across the state.
The state has been witnessing numerous such cases, many of which remain unresolved, posing a serious violation of children's rights. The initiative is aimed at ensuring a coordinated and accountable approach to protect vulnerable children, as reported by The New Indian Express on Wednesday.
District police heads will chair the task force, which will include ten members from various departments. The District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) will serve as the member secretary.
The task forces are mandated to meet monthly to review the progress of investigations into missing and abducted children. DCPOs are required to submit mandatory reports to the Directorate of Child Protection by the end of every month, added TNIE.
The task force will summon parents of missing children during review meetings to collect any additional information that may aid investigations. It will also offer counselling, moral support, and psychological assistance to affected families.
A senior official quoted by TNIE stated that all missing cases involving children under 18 are registered as kidnapping cases. In Bengaluru alone, 800 to 1,000 cases of missing children are reported annually.
The task force will also launch and monitor special district-level campaigns in coordination with other departments to trace long-pending cases. They are also responsible for conducting awareness programmes involving self-help groups and local communities.
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Deputy CM DK Shivakumar rejects allegations of Surjewala meeting Karnataka officials
Hassan (Karnataka), Jul 26 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday refuted allegations that Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had met with state government officials, terming it "completely false".Speaking to reporters at Arsikere, Shivakumar clarified that Randeep Surjewala has neither met nor spoken to any officials.
“This is our government. If there is anything to be conveyed, he (Surjewala) will tell us directly. If there are any mistakes, he will inform us, and we will correct them. Apart from that, saying he met officials is false,” Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president said.
Asked about Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna’s statement that such meetings with officials are "illegal", Shivakumar declined to comment.
“I don’t want to speak about senior leaders. The Chief Minister has already responded to this. After his clarification, I have nothing further to say. The Chief Minister has more information than I do,” he said.
