People’s Legal Forum has urged the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to conduct a thorough probe into the practice of private residential schools illegally housing children from northeastern States.

In a letter to the Commission with copies marked to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Women and Child Development Laxmi Hebbalkar, the forum director P.P. Baburaj said the recent incident of food poisoning resulting in the death of two children from Meghalaya had brought to light that the hostel of Gokulam educational institution in T. Kagepura in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district had illegally housed children from the northeastern States.

He said there is speculation that children from the northeastern States were housed in several private educational institutions run by religious organisations and orphanages in different parts of the State.

“It has been observed that some of the institutions were accommodating children under the age of 18 without proper authorisation. According to law, the details of such children should be regularly submitted to the department concerned. But, the information about children from northeastern States had been kept under wraps. Hence, a broader investigation in the matter is necessary to ensure transparency,” said Mr. Baburaj, who is also a former member of the Juvenile Justice Board.

He said a detailed probe will reveal the total number of children from northeastern States currently in Karnataka and the reason behind such young children travelling such long distances to study in the State. “Have their parents given consent for their stay and education here? In which language are they being taught and the subjects that are covered as part of their education?”, he sought to know.

The probe should also throw light on who brought the children to Karnataka and how they were brought. He also sought to know if the children were in continuous contact with their parents. “Is their accommodation and education free? If there is funding involved, who is providing it, and how much?”, he asked.

While legal action had been initiated against the institution in Malavalli in the wake of the tragic death of two children and several others falling sick due to stomach poisoning, Mr. Baburaj said a detailed investigation was necessary against all private schools, including the ones run by religious institutions, besides orphanages across Karnataka to gather information about children from northeastern States housing them.