CM Siddaramaiah faceoff with kids a learning experience

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was stunned into silence by a child during his interaction with students drawn from government schools across the state here on Thursday.
Reason:

The visually challenged child asked him about discrimination in government schools. "I do not understand why we are not covered under ksheera bhagya (free milk supply) scheme.

Besides, normal children get Rs 1000 as scholarship, while it is Rs 600 for the visually impaired. Why this discrimination?" was the question.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who was chairing the "Children Rights Parliament", was wordless for a minute before offering an assurance that the government would end such disparity in government schools.

He was stumped by another child's question on why the government was not taking the initiative to treat HIV/AIDS affected children. This student suggested that the state government should offer free treatment for school children in government hospitals.

A girl from Tumkur spoke up about transportation problems faced by children from rural areas. "Most parents admit their children to English medium schools as they have a good transportation system.

Children going to Kannada medium schools do not get such facilities, particularly those from rural and forest areas," she added.

In his inaugural address, the CM expressed anguish over increasing instances of sexual abuse of school children.

"Those who indulge in such heinous acts are worse than animals. The government will not spare such people. The government is setting up a special court to try these offenders," he added.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said a mechanism has been put in place to identify HIV/AIDS affected children, but only their parents would be informed about it.