Karnataka Education Department Criticized Over Daycare Incident
In Karnataka, Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of KAMS, has condemned the education department following a tragic incident at a daycare center. He claims the government is ignoring the illegal operations of unregistered centers, which jeopardizes child safety. Kumar emphasizes the need for regulatory oversight and accountability, revealing that thousands of pre-primary institutions are operating without registration. His allegations include corruption among local officials, raising serious concerns about the prioritization of profit over child welfare. This situation calls for immediate government action to ensure the safety of children in these facilities.
| Jul 3, 2026, 19:16 IST
Concerns Raised Over Child Safety in Karnataka
Shashi Kumar, the General Secretary of the 'Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools' (KAMS), has voiced strong criticism against the Karnataka education department following a tragic incident at a daycare center in Bengaluru. He accused the government of turning a blind eye to the illegal operations of numerous unregistered centers. Discussing the incident, Kumar attributed the lapse in child safety to a lack of regulatory oversight.
He stated, "This is a tragic situation, but the blame lies squarely with the education department, as there is a clear law under the Education Act of 2018 mandating that every pre-primary school must be registered. If they are not registered, they cannot be held accountable. This is why we witness such unfortunate events. It is reprehensible."
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Kumar further alleged that the government has repeatedly ignored warnings regarding child safety at these facilities. He emphasized that the government must take decisive action. "We have previously lodged multiple complaints to regulate these centers due to issues such as drug administration, child abuse, and physical punishment; violations of the JJ (Juvenile Justice) Act and POCSO Act are rampant, yet the government remains oblivious to these centers," he remarked. When asked if government negligence has led these centers to prioritize profit over child safety, Kumar leveled serious accusations of corruption against local officials. He told a news outlet, "Absolutely, as the government and local authorities are complicit. They accept bribes and allow these centers to operate without registration or accountability. This is unacceptable."
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The KAMS General Secretary highlighted the widespread nature of this issue, claiming that thousands of pre-primary institutions in the state are operating outside legal boundaries. Kumar mentioned that the association has consistently raised complaints. Despite submitting grievances and providing samples, the government has failed to take any action in Karnataka. Recent information indicates that 25,000 pre-primary schools are functioning without registration. In such cases, who will be held accountable for what occurs there? We have lodged complaints, but no steps have been taken, and the responsibility lies with the department—specifically, the education department and senior officials.