KOZHIKODE: The district child protection unit (DCPU) in Malappuram is on a drive to collect data of day-care centres with the support of police to have a primary knowledge about the affairs going on there. The prevailing situation is that anyone can start a daycare or play school in the state sans any license. “The absence of a monitoring system will be detrimental to the proprietors of the centres in case of any casualty happens to the children. After coming under scrutiny, they can be included in the state's various child welfare programmes,” said Samir Machingal, DCPO.
The DCPU will collate the data and submit to the government to bring them under the rule. The alleged rape of a 4-year-old girl by the security guard at a daycare centre in Ernakulam last year prompted the move. “The details of the number of children, teachers and their qualifications, facilities, food, hygiene, timing and fee should be sought and recorded,” he explained.
Many centres are associated with schools with only the building number provided by the local self-government institutions. Similarly, many women run them at home. “There is no law which regulates day-care centres. It is pertinent to bring these playschools under the ambit of law as our social life has been drastically changed after both father and mother become employed,” said a municipality secretary who preferred anonymity. State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR) had submitted a draft for a comprehensive law on the pre-schooling system to address the issue.
