After a public outcry over the reported ill-treatment of a child at a playschool at Palarivattom, the Kochi Corporation is planing to introduce a legal regime for playschools and day-care centres.
Accordingly, playschools, day-care centres, and crèches will have to register themselves with the corporation.
“They have been given 20 days for the registration starting June 10. By June 30, all are expected to complete the process and provide basic information like the name of the owner of the institution, nature of the building, and the strength of staff and children,” said Mayor Soumini Jain.
A meeting convened by her on Wednesday to discuss the issue also authorised the welfare standing committee to prepare a bylaw for licensing such institutions.
At a later stage, they will have to obtain licence from the corporation.
The draft bylaw, to be prepared by the standing committee, will be discussed in the corporation council. Suggestions from the council too will be incorporated in the new regime, Ms. Jain said.
“At present, there is no legal mechanism to regulate the functioning of such institutions in the city. Besides, no data are available with the corporation. The attempt is to introduce a legal mechanism for governing them,” the Mayor added.
Jagratha Samitis
The Jagratha Samitis constituted in various divisions of the civic body will have a supervisory role.
They are also authorised to look into the general welfare of children. The local samities can place their reports and feedback to the samiti formed at the corporation level, she said.
