Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Highlights Critical Child Protection Misconceptions Among Officials
In a significant address at a training workshop in Mysuru, Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy raised a pressing issue regarding child protection responsibilities. He pointed out that numerous officials across key departments—including revenue, education, and health—labor under the mistaken belief that safeguarding children falls solely within the purview of the child welfare department.
Alarming Child Marriage Statistics Revealed Despite Educational Progress
Speaking at a one-day training and awareness session focused on the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the POCSO Act, Reddy underscored the shared duty of preventing child marriages. He presented concerning data, noting that Mysuru, despite its advancements in education, continues to grapple with this social ill.
In 2024, authorities successfully prevented 224 child marriages, yet 56 such unions still occurred. The trend persisted into 2025, with 24 marriages solemnized out of 268 reported cases. Reddy attributed these figures largely to a deficiency in timely information from the public, hampering intervention efforts.
Push for Coordinated Action to Achieve "Zero Child Marriage District" Status
The Deputy Commissioner called for a unified, coordinated approach among all stakeholders to help Mysuru attain the ambitious goal of becoming a "Zero Child Marriage District" by 2026. He emphasized that this target requires collective vigilance and proactive measures from every department involved in child welfare.
Echoing this sentiment, Usha Rani, the Principal District and Sessions Judge of Mysuru, urged officials to work collaboratively to secure children's futures. She stressed that the success and well-being of children are directly tied to the security, care, and compassion they receive today.
Social Evils Depriving Children of Basic Rights
Judge Usha Rani highlighted how pervasive social evils—such as child labour, child marriage, and sexual abuse—continue to strip children of their fundamental rights to education, health, and dignity. With 42% of India's population under the age of 18, the vulnerability of the girl child remains a particularly serious concern, she noted, urging officials to ensure robust, ground-level implementation of child protection laws.
Workshop and Rally Kick Off Awareness Drive
The training workshop, held at Kalamandira for district- and taluk-level child marriage prohibition officers, was part of a broader initiative to bolster child protection efforts. Earlier in the day, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shivaraju flagged off a rally in support of the Bal Vivah Mukt Abhiyan (Child Marriage-Free Campaign), symbolizing the community's commitment to this cause.
The event saw participation from key figures, including:
- Sneha, Director of the Directorate of Child Protection in Bengaluru
- KK Amarnath, Senior Civil Judge and Member Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)
- NT Yogesh, District Child Protection Officer
- K Saraswathi, Director of RLHP
Their presence underscored the multi-agency collaboration essential for effective child protection, reinforcing the message that safeguarding children is a collective responsibility that transcends departmental boundaries.
