Karnataka stands in 10th position in Child Rights Index

Karnataka’s performance in realising child rights and well-being is moderate and the State ranks 10th among 30 States, according to the Child Rights Index in Karnataka-2023.

The study by S. Madheswaran and B.P. Vani of Institute for Social and Economic Change in collaboration with Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) was released on Thursday, November 20. The index is calculated considering six dimensions: Right to Life, Right to an Enabling Environment to Live, Right to Nutrition, Right to Protection, Right to Education, and Right to Participation.

While there was not much variation among districts in terms of the ‘Right to Life Index’, there was higher variation across districts in terms of indicators such as the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under-5 Mortality and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).

“Most districts in the Mysuru division and a small number of districts in the Bengaluru division have realised children’s rights with regard to the Right to Live dimension,” said the report.

There was little difference across districts in the institutional delivery and immunisation indicators.

“The government should focus on reducing the disparities across districts with respect to IMR, Under-5 Mortality and MMR indicators to realise the child rights towards the Right to Life component,” stated the report.

When it came to the prevalence of child labour, criminality under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and crime against children, compared to other districts, the crime rate against children is over seven to eight times greater in Bengaluru Urban.

Children are denied access to their rights owing to two more pressing issues, namely child labour and child marriage. “When it comes to children’s Right to Protection, Vijayapura, Belagavi, Gadag, Bengaluru Urban, and Kolar require the greatest attention,” the report said.

Yadgir, Gadag, Chitradurga, Davangere, and Chikkaballapura are among those having very low level of realisation with respect to the Right to Education dimension.

“The districts of Kalburagi, Raichur, and Haveri are likewise classified as having low realisation, and these districts must handle the Right to Education more effectively,” reads the report.

In terms of right to nutrition, over 70% of children in seven districts, primarily in Kalyana Karnataka, suffer from anaemia. The anaemia status in 14 districts is between 60 and 70%, while the incidence of anaemia in the remaining nine districts, which are primarily from Mysuru and partially from the Bengaluru division, was between 50% and 60%.

Though there is an increase in the budget allocation towards child-centric programmes, studies have shown that the allocation is lower compared to States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala and hence it is important to both protect and increase expenditures to promote child rights. “Allocation to backward districts like Kalyana Karnataka and northern districts should be provided with additional allocation,” it recommended.