Kripa Amar Alva, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), believes in solving issues immediately. In an interview with Akshay Prasad of Express, Alva, who took over as chairperson of the commission from Umesh Aradhya on June 2, speaks about her plans for KSCPCR during her three-year tenure.
There have been complaints against the past two commissions that the members do not work full time, and only come when needed?
This time, we are looking at having full-time members at the commission. We will recruit members division-wise, and in each division, like Kalaburagi and Mangaluru, members will be appointed. Deliberations are in progress. We expect newly appointed members to work round the clock.
Who are the new members, and when will they be appointed?
I do not know who the new members are, or whether they have been selected. However, the appointments will be made soon after the session in all probability.
What are your plans to increase awareness about child rights in the state?
I hope to follow a new style of functioning, where issues will be tackled head on. For instance, a few days ago, there was a case of one child bullying another in a school. I immediately spoke to the principal and the parents of both the bully and the victim. The matter was solved immediately. In another case of bullying at another school, I directed that both the students go in for counselling.
Do you mean to say that the past commissions did not follow this style of functioning?
I do not want to comment on that. This is my style, and I do not know about the past commissions.
What are the areas of child rights that you are specifically looking at to improve?
I am looking at strengthening the Right to Education (RTE) Act. However, I want to go a step further than just the RTE. While the RTE aims at ensuring education till the age of 14, I will ensure that every child is educated till the age of 18 as education is imperative. I am aiming at 100 per cent, and even if I reach around 80 per cent in this regard, I will be satisfied. In this, I seek the support of every citizen of the state.
What about the RTE and POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) cells that were to be set up at the commission?
We have already discussed this. The cells will be functional in the next few months.
What about other issues like child labour and child abuse that is plaguing the state?
Just because I am looking at strengthening the RTE, it does not mean that other issues take a back seat. They are all important issues and will be tackled.
If one travels to north Karnataka, incidents of child labour are quite prominent. Child marriages are common in north Karnataka. What is your take on this?
As I said earlier, I will place emphasis on delivering quality education to children till the age of 18. Once people are educated, such problems will soon disappear. Education is the answer to most of these issues. When one area is focused upon, incidents of child rights violations in other areas reduce automatically.
The past commission members had prepared a set of recommendations that were to have been submitted to the government. Has this been done?
Yes, the past members have prepared a list of recommendations, but I do have a copy with me. I shall place these recommendations in front of another expert panel so that they can be deliberated. Once that process is complete, the recommendations shall be sent to the government. This may take a while.
There have been reports that your appointment as chairperson of the KSCPCR is purely political.
I would like to state that there is a process for appointing the chairperson. In my case, this process has been duly followed. I do not know who the other nominees were. However, this is not a political appointment, as alleged. Healthy criticism is welcome, but there is no point in politicising the issue.
Other child rights activists are saying that they have not heard of you. Many are saying that you have done no work in the field of child rights.
Well, that way, I have not heard of them either. And frankly, knowing or not knowing someone does not mean anything. I want to work from my heart, and this is what matters. With respect to my work, I have been active in the field of child rights in my own, small way in the south Canara region. Just because it is not in the mainstream, does not mean that I have not done any work at all.
There were four infant deaths at KIMS a few days ago. What action was taken on that front?
We took up a suo motu case in this regard after seeing media reports. A probe will be initiated. We have already written a letter to the Health Department seeking the reports on the deaths. Our workers also met the parents of the first two infants that died.
Alva Warns NPS of Criminal Proceedings
On Thursday, Alva visited the National Public School in the city following complaints that the school was not admitting students under RTE. “We did receive a complaint stating that the school was not admitting students under RTE. In all, 15 students were supposed to be admitted, but only eight got through. The school authorities said they had admitted all the 15 students. In fact, when I went there, I wasn’t even allowed inside. They locked all the school gates. Since the BEO was also present, we barged in. After discussions, the school has asked for two days’ time to admit the remaining students. In case they don’t, criminal proceedings will be initiated against them,” Alva said.