Karnataka plans to appoint a nodal agency to monitor daycare centres
Following the recent case of alleged abuse of children at a daycare centre on the campus of IT major Capgemini, the State government plans to
Following the recent case of alleged abuse of children at a daycare centre on the campus of IT major Capgemini, the State government plans to regulate daycare centres and appoint a nodal agency for their monitoring. According to guidelines formed in 2015: “Periodic and surprise inspection of the creche shall be conducted by prescribed authorities. After inspection, the authorities are required to give recommendations and suggestions for improvement of the centres or even write to the local body for cancellation of licence.” But the guidelines do not mention the prescribed authority or department.
Meanwhile, Santhosh Kumar, chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), said the commission will form a committee with representatives of all departments concerned, parents and other experts to discuss the issue. “Recommendations from all stakeholders will be considered in revising the 2015 guidelines and deciding the nodal agency that will be in charge of monitoring and inspection of creches,” he said.
He further said that the revised guidelines will also include the maximum number of children to be enrolled in these creches and sufficient number of caretakers to be recruited. “We are also going to make registration mandatory for these creches through a government portal. Every creche should have CCTV cameras, and it should be accessible to the creche owner, parents or guardians.
More regulations will be in place under these new guidelines,” he said.
The BriefWire