The alleged abuse of children at a Bengaluru daycare centre has sparked fresh concerns over the functioning of thousands of unregistered pre-primary and daycare centres in Karnataka, with the Karnataka Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools (KAMS) blaming poor regulatory oversight by the Education Department.
Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of KAMS, said the shocking incident highlighted the urgent need for stricter enforcement of existing laws governing pre-primary institutions.
KAMS blames lack of regulation
Referring to the Karnataka Education Act, 2018, Kumar said every pre-primary school is required to be registered with the Education Department.
“It is unfortunate, but the blame goes to the Education Department because every pre-primary school should be registered. If they are not registered, there is no accountability. Incidents like this are condemnable,” he said.
Kumar alleged that KAMS had repeatedly urged the government to regulate daycare and pre-primary centres, warning about child safety concerns, but claimed that little action had been taken.
Claims of widespread violations
According to Kumar, nearly 25,000 pre-primary schools in Karnataka are operating without registration, leaving authorities with limited oversight and making accountability difficult when incidents occur.
He further alleged that violations of child protection laws, including provisions under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, have been reported in some centres. Kumar also made allegations of corruption against local authorities, claiming that some unregistered institutions continue to function despite repeated complaints.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and the government has not responded publicly to the specific claims.
Investigation gathers pace
The criticism comes as police continue investigating the alleged abuse at a daycare centre in Bengaluru’s Brookefield area. One woman has been arrested in connection with the case after investigators examined video footage that allegedly showed children being subjected to abuse.
Authorities have registered a case and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has described the alleged abuse as “absolutely unacceptable” and reiterated that the government has zero tolerance for crimes against children. He said all daycare centres must strictly adhere to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), while the management of the facility has been asked to submit a detailed explanation.
The incident has intensified calls for stronger regulation, mandatory registration and regular inspections of childcare facilities to ensure the safety and well-being of young children across the state.