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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Former minister C M Ibrahim announces to launch new regional party for Karnataka
Kalaburagi: Two years after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular), former minister C.M. Ibrahim has announced that he will launch a new regional political party in Karnataka on January 24, reported Deccan Herald.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Andolana in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ibrahim confirmed the birth of the new party.
The 77-year-old politician stated he would soon be meeting with other like-minded individuals to choose a symbol for the party.
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Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation would be guided by the principles of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
A veteran politician, Ibrahim served as Union Civil Aviation Minister during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and later headed the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). He was expelled from the JD(S) in 2023 on charges of anti-party activities.
His exit from the party followed sharp differences over the JD(S) decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the then state president of the JD(S), Ibrahim had publicly criticised the alliance, claiming it was finalised without his knowledge. He had also reportedly convened meetings of his supporters and expressed support for the INDIA bloc.
