Source - Livelaw.in
The Karnataka High Court on Friday observed that there is an increase in cases of child labour and child marriage in rural areas of the state, as children below the age of 14 years are not going to schools. A division bench of Justice B V Nagarathna and Justice N S Sanjay Gowda has directed the
state government to in ten days time take a decision on whether the presently suspended 'Vidyagama' Scheme can be recommenced, with a view to keep the students engaged and ensure they are not distracted or diverted and considering that Covid-19 cases in the state are declining.The program is for those students who do not have a facility of technology, especially internet in rural and semi urban areas.
Observing that extraordinary situations call for extraordinary remedies, The bench directed the state government to approach Companies to garner funds for distribution of laptops, tablets, Computers, etc to students through the mechanism of Corporate Social Responsibility, as envisaged under sec 135 of the Companies Act. The bench has 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. The directions were given while hearing a public interest litigation filed by A. A. Sanjeev Narrain, Arvind Narrain and Murali Mohan, which stated that the State by not providing adequate online resources to school children prior to resumption of online classes,violated Article 21-A with the the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, 2009, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2012.
The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on December 17.