Parents should guide children with understanding rather than pressure, said Shubha, Senior Civil Judge and Member Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, while inaugurating a workshop on child rights and related laws.
The workshop was organised at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Madikeri by the district administration in association with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, New Delhi.
Shubha observed that children often face various forms of pressure within families, which can negatively impact their mental well-being. She advised parents not to compare children based on exam results or with other students, as such comparisons can have long-term psychological effects. She emphasised that SSLC and PUC results are not the ultimate measure of success and urged parents to treat children as friends and understand their individual strengths.
Expressing concern over the persistence of POCSO cases despite awareness efforts, she called upon society and the administrative system to work collectively to prevent violence against children. She noted that many economically weaker families suffer deeply when members are jailed under POCSO cases, resulting in financial and emotional distress.
Venkatesh, Member of the Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, stressed the need to protect children’s rights and ensure coordinated efforts among departments including Women and Child Development, Education, Police, and Labour.
Dr. K. Raghavendra Bhat, Regional Coordinator of UNICEF’s Child Protection Project, elaborated on the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act. Shubh Sharma, Advisor to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, spoke about the prohibition of corporal punishment and its adverse effects.
Several officials and stakeholders from various departments attended the programme.
