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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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
