BANGALORE, JULY 2, 209: The State Government on Thursday appointed Nina P Nayak, former chairperson, Karnataka State Council for Child Welfare, as the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Ms Nayak is from Dakshina Kannada and has been fighting for rights of children over the years. She has also authored several articles and a book.
Ms Nayak is Vice-President of the Indian Council for Child Welfare and member of the sub-committee on children in the National Planning Commission of India. She has served three terms as the chairperson of the Karnataka State Council for Child Welfare.
Six other members of the commission are M R Mamatha, N. V. Vasudeva Sharma, Niranjana Aradhya, M R Poornima, Madhu and the director of Sathi association, Bangalore.
The Commission for Protection of Child Rights Acts, 2005, under which the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has been set up, has provision for setting up of state panels as well under Section 17 of the Act.
As per the Act, the State Commission should consist of a Chairperson and six members who are persons of eminence and have done outstanding work for promoting the welfare of children.
Addressing press persons here, Minister for Women and Child Welfare P M Narendraswamy said Rs. 1.70 crore had been released to the commission for the year 2009-10.
The commission would work for protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation. It would inquire into violation of child rights and recommend initiation of proceedings in such cases.
There has been delay in constituting the child rights commission for nearly two years. The delay had drawn flak from child rights activists. Though the setting up of the committee was officially announced about two years ago and funds released, there had been inordinate delay in naming the chairperson and members.
The department said the international women day celebrations would be held at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall on July 8. The programme was not organised on March 8 following enforcement of model code of conduct due to the lok sabha elections in April and May, 2009.
The Government would present the Kittur Rani Chennamma awards to 15 persons and six organisations for their contributions for the welfare of women.
