Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 29: The state government submitted a survey report to the state high court on Wednesday July 28 as per which 1.82 lac children have remained out of school in the state. This includes 1.26 lac children from rural areas aged between 3 and 5 years.

The Suo Moto public interest litigation registered by the state high court meant to bring back children who have remained out of school back to schools, was heard by a division bench of the high court presided by Chief Justice A S Oka on Wednesday July 28. Amicus Curiae in the case, who happens to be senior advocate K S Phaneendra, who submitted the report, gave this information.

As per the information provided by the rural development and panchayat raj department officials, a survey conducted in rural areas identified 34,55,656 children aged less than 18 of which 32,14,257 are attending school. As many as 1,26,245 children aged between 3 and 6 and 33,344 children aged from 6 to 18 are not attending schools. A total of 9,716 children have never sought admission into schools. As many as 72,094 children are below the age of 3, the report stated.

In the meanwhile, the urban development department has identified 12,28,052 children of which 9,25,820 children in the age group of 6 to 18 are attending schools. A total of 8,718 children have stayed out of schools and 4,848 have not obtained admission into schools, the report explains.

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which falls under the urban development department, has not yet started door to door survey. The officials say that because of Covid-19 they could not undertake survey. The bench ordered to issue a notice to BBMP seeking a reply. It asked the secretary in the urban development department to direct BBMP to undertake the door to door survey immediately.