Figure among 48 districts where most incidents of atrocities against children are reported

Kasaragod and Wayanad figure on the list of 48 districts in the country which have reported the highest incidents of atrocities committed against children. The observation was made during a stakeholders’ meet of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, the first of its kind in the State, held at the Collectorate conference hall here on Monday.

Kasaragod, incidentally, has the highest number of children from other States engaged as domestic help in houses, State Child Rights Commission chairperson Shobha Koshy said, chairing the meet.

There are even reports of children being used to supply narcotic substances, to commit robberies, and to beggary, she said, adding that a decision to hold such a meeting here was taken in the light of the disturbing scenario. The increasing number of school dropouts, mainly due to rising instances of abuse on children at homes, is an area of serious concern that should be addressed by authorities, she said.

At a sitting earlier in the day, Ms. Koshy was urged to look into the shortage of adequate number of teachers in select schools especially those relied by the Kannada linguistic minorities. The meeting was attended by Additional District Magistrate H. Dineshan, Superintendent of Police A. Srinivas, members of the commission and Child Welfare Committee.