Mysuru: Maintaining that bringing back dropouts to schools holds key in the eradication of social evils such as child labour and child marriage, Karnataka State Child Rights Commission Chairperson Krupa Alva has called for a perfect co-ordination among all stakeholders in the protection of child rights.

She was speaking after inaugurating an awareness workshop on Child Rights organised for Government Primary and High School Headmasters of the district at Stree Shakthi Bhavan in Vijayanagar second stage here this morning.

The workshop was organised jointly by Karnataka State Child Rights Commission, Districtv Legan Services Authority (DLSSA), District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Women and Child Welfare Department, Department of Public Instruction and District Child Protection unit.

Pointing out that there was 23.2 percent child marriages in the State, Krupa Alva expressed concern over child marriage menace, despite the measures taken by the Government.

Emphasising that the Women and Child Welfare and the Education Departments have a greater responsibility in the protection of child rights, she underlined the role of schools in ensuring that the society treads on the right path.

Referring to her visit to Chitradurga recently, she said that Government officials said that there were only 73 school dropouts in that district.   By a private survey gave an alarming report stating that 434 children had opted out of schools in three Gram Panchayats alone in that district.

Commission Member Y. Mariswamy, Mysuru District Child Welfare Committee President N.P. Venkatesh, District Child Protection Officer R. Nagaraj, Women and Child Welfare Department’s K. Radha were present.