The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has appealed to the government to implement an ‘Accident and Life Insurance’ scheme for all school and Pre-University College (PU) students.
Thippeswamy K.T., a member of KSCPCR, has written a letter to the Chief Minister seeking a scheme on the model of Kerala.
In addition, Mr. Thippeswamy has also urged the implementation of a ‘Child Protection in Tourism Policy’ to ensure the safety of children in the State’s tourist destinations.
“In the last few years, many schools and PU colleges in the State have witnessed deaths and serious injuries due to children falling into hot pots of midday meals, accidents during school trips and sports events, electrocution, building and infrastructure failures and other incidents. Several complaints have also been registered before the commission in this regard. The government and educational institutions are responsible for providing a safe and child-friendly environment to schoolchildren under the ‘Right to Education Act, 2009’. In addition, ‘Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the National Policy for Children’ have also declared the life and safety of children as the primary duty of the government,” the letter stated.
“When accidents happen in schools or during school activities, it is not enough for children to have only “life insurance” coverage. Life insurance provides compensation only in the event of death. But in accidents, most children end up seriously injured, permanently disabled or in a state requiring long-term treatment. In such cases, only accident insurance can provide treatment expenses, disability compensation and emergency assistance. Therefore, both accident insurance and life insurance are indispensable for the protection of children. The Kerala government has implemented an accident and life insurance scheme for schoolchildren, and a similar scheme needs to be implemented in the State,” he added.
Coverage
Mr. Thippeswamy has sought that all students from classes 1 to II PUC of all government, aided and private schools and PU colleges in the State should be covered under this accident and life insurance scheme, and that all accidents that occur on school premises should be compensated.
“Rather than looking at the lives and safety of children with sympathy after an accident, creating a system to protect them from the financial consequences of an accident in advance is a true pro-child governance. The State government should announce the scheme in the State Budget for 2026-27,” Mr. Thippeswamy said.
Published – February 03, 2026 09:04 pm IST
