In POCSO Cases Stakeholders should be Linked for Conviction – Kripa Alva
Mangaluru: To improve the government schools present scenario, Chairperson of the Women and Child Protection Commissioner Kripa Amar Alva announced of introducing the enhancement programme in government schools throughout the state. She was speaking to the media persons at an interaction session with the media at the Press Club, Urwa here on May 29.
Addressing the media persons Kripa said, “There are atrocities committed and discrimination against students in government schools but I am very happy to say that in Dakshina Kannada no discrimination or atrocities against students have been reported. Some government schools are in a pathetic condition where we have to provide basic facilities. Under the government school enhancement programme, we will concentrate on providing basic facilities such as the right to live, right to protection etc. The alumni of the government schools can come forward and work for the betterment of their schools. Now it is a trend that old students hold get-togethers and recall their school days. There are alumni who want to help their alma mater. Through alumni associations, we can develop the government schools,” she said.
Kripa further said, “We are coming out with a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for POCSO and it will get ready by the end of July. In Dakshina Kannada, we do not hear about atrocities. In Gulbarga, we have stopped 100 child marriages and Belgaum 70. From January 21 to June 21 in all the districts and Taluks we are organizing programme to stop the child marriages. We have formed two teams to go to all the places in Karnataka to play a short film on ‘Shaale Kade Nanna Nade’ and “Ban on child marriage”. It is an awareness programme which is recognized by the SAARC countries and they have invited each representative from Karnataka and Odisha commissions to take part in the meeting which was held in New Delhi which shows that a small programme can make a difference. So we are a part of the SAARC countries consultation on child marriages.”
Kripa also said, “Last time we worked on drugs. Tobacco is the gateway for drugs, children start with tobacco which ends with drugs. The police have also co-operated with us to hold awareness programmes. Drug peddlers and drug consumers have been apprehended. We have received many complaints from parents that there is discrimination in schools because of late fee payment. Parents want their children to be educated but the private school fee structure is high which they cannot afford and so send their children to government schools. If we see, government school teachers are much better than their counterparts in private schools. Media plays an important role in shaping the destiny of the society. Media should bring awareness among the people”.
When asked about the smart classes Kripa said, “I am looking for computer classes to students from 6 to 10 standard and 1 to 5 so that they can learn about computers. In 2011 to 2013 there were smart classes but for some reasons, they did not work properly. If we introduce only smart classes students will not become smart. If the child is encouraged in extracurricular activities along with acamedics and provided with basic facilities there will be all round development of the child. At present, I am only looking into the basic facilities. If any alumni are interested in helping their alma mater they can come forward to develop the basic infrastructure.”
Responding to the question of SOP under POCSO Kripa said, “In Germany, the conviction rate is 95% because there the police are people friendly. The police station is the first point of contact for any victim or NGO. If the police get to know such incidents, they file a case. The special public prosecutor who deals with POCSO case will appear in the picture much later. If a victim can share the pain which he/she has gone through immediately, they can narrate the depth of the pain clearly. After some days the victim will not be able to brief about the case. In Germany, the police and the Special Public Prosecutor work together that is the reason the conviction rate is good. My suggestion is that the special public prosecutor should come first and interact with the victim. There are many stakeholders in POSCO it could be mental health, a government hospital, forensic, special public prosecutor and judges who are not connected with each other. In our country, these stakeholders are disconnected from one another. All the stakeholders in POCSO cases should be linked together and work hard for a conviction.
The president of Press Club Ronald Fernandes, President of Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Union Jagannath Baala and Secretary Srinivas Indaje were also present.
