Karnataka govt schools, colleges to hold POCSO awareness drive amid rise in teenage pregnancies
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Bengaluru: In response to the alarming rise in teenage pregnancies across Karnataka, the state government is launching a large-scale awareness drive on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in all government schools and colleges.
Starting in November and running through January, the programme will be conducted across 40,000 government schools and 4,248 colleges, targeting students from Classes 6 to 12.
“A government order was passed recently to create awareness among students about the POCSO Act. Teachers have already been trained on the POCSO Act by former judges, child rights activists, and legal experts,” The New Indian Express quoted Vidya Kumari, State Project Director of Samagra Shikshana Karnataka, as saying.
The manual prepared for the campaign includes sections on what constitutes child sexual abuse, the provisions and background of the POCSO Act, offences and punishments under the law, child laws (2015–2021) and amendments, guidelines on safe and unsafe touch, and understanding the emotional effects of love and romance during adolescence.
It also educates students on what to do if they are victims or at risk of sexual exploitation, and encourages familiarity with child-friendly police stations and open houses, added the report.
Vasudev Sharma, Executive Director of the Child Rights Trust, praised the government's initiative but suggested it should have been introduced earlier. “Teenage pregnancies have increased in Karnataka, bringing emotional and physical consequences. Before teachers or experts, students must first be taught about human biology and the difference between safe and unsafe touch," TNIE quoted him as saying.
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Defamatory post against Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade: Case registered against Girish Mattannavar
Belthangady: A case has been registered at Dharmasthala police station against Girish Mattannavar over a complaint regarding alleged defamatory posts on social media against Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala.
The complaint was filed by Subrahmanya Prasad, a resident of Dharmasthala.
The complainant stated that Mattannavar posted content on Instagram making allegations against Dr. Heggade and allegedly affecting his reputation.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which is related to spreading false information, rumours, or alarming news, on April 18, and the investigation is in progress.
Following information about Mattannavar’s appearance at the SIT office on May 7, a police officer from Dharmasthala police station issued a notice directing him to appear at the station within a week.
