Child labour, child marriages on the rise in rural areas as children not going to schools: Karnataka High Court

There is a spike in incidents of child labour and child marriage in rural areas of Karnataka as children below the age of 14 years are not going to schools due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Karnataka High Court recently remarked. .The observation was made a Division Bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and NS Sanjay Gowda while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to the government to provide laptops, tablets, and other digital resources free of cost to enable school children belonging to economically weaker sections to attend online classes..During the hearing of the case, the Court was informed by the petitioners that children, who are not going to schools currently, may be forced into child labour and/or child marriage.Further, such children do not have the benefit of mid-day meal as well, the Court was told..The Court, taking note of the submissions, directed the State government to take a decision on whether the presently suspended 'Vidyagama' scheme could be recommenced, with a view to keeping the students engaged and ensure they are not distracted..Vidyagama scheme was initiated to ensure that classes are not disrupted for children, who lacked access to online classes. As per the scheme, children used to to gather in batches of 10 to 15 at a spacious place located in the vicinity of their house. All the children would be required to wear face masks, undergo thermal screening and maintain physical distancing..The teachers then visited the spot and taught them for two hours a day. Classes included Science, Mathematics, Social Science and English. The scheme was suspended in October after students tested positive for COVID-19..Online Classes: Karnataka HC issues notice in plea seeking free laptops/tablets for students from economically weaker sections.During the hearing, the petitioners pushed for providing educational facilities to the children, particularly having regard to Article 21-A of the Constitution and the Right to Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) during the COVID-19 pandemic..The Additional Government Advocate, on the other hand, submitted that the State is facing extreme financial crunch on account of huge expenditure owing to the spread of COVID-19 and its management. It was, therefore, submitted that providing laptops/tablets to children from financially weaker sections was not possible..Further, the government informed the Bench that at present, students of grades, 5th to 10th are imparted education through the Television channel Chandana. Hearing this, the Bench noted that pre-primary and primary students are not having the benefit of online education..Observing that "extraordinary situations call for extraordinary remedies", the Court directed the State government to approach companies as well, to raise funds for the distribution of laptops, tablets, etc to students from poorer backgrounds, through the mechanism of Corporate Social Responsibility, as envisaged under section 135 of the Companies Act, 1956.."It is needless to observe that if the State makes an appeal through CSR as envisaged under Companies Act, 2013, the concerned corporate entities and others may come forward to aid and assist the State in ensuring that there is no discontinuity in the education of children, particularly having regard to Article 21-A of the Constitution and the provisions of the RTE Act, 2009," the court added..The Court also directed the State government to rope in NGOs working in the field of education to ensure there is no disruption of education of children..These observations and directions have been issued as it is not known as to when COVID-19 pandemic would subside and efface and as to when regular classes would commence for the students, particularly those who have the benefit of Article 21-A of the Constitution and Right to Education Act, 2009," the court said. .The court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 17..[Read Order]