Imphal, October 10, 2017 (DIPR): A One day Regional Consultation on ‘Child Rights – Gaps & Challenges in North Eastern States’ was held today at Imperial Hall, The Classic Grande with focus on Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2015, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2016.
The inaugural session of the consultation was graced by Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, Shri N. Kotiswar Singh, Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister Smt. Nemcha Kipgen, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Smt. Stuti Kacker, Member, NSPCR, Shri Yashwant Jain, Chairperson, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), Smt. Sumatibala Ningthoujam, Commissioner of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur, Shri H. Deleep Singh, IAS as Chief Guest, President and Guests of Honour respectively. Delegates from the Eight (8) States of North East India, participants from various departments of Manipur Government, Civil Societies, NGOs were also part of this consultation.
Addressing the gatherings, Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice N. Kotiswar said that the law relating to children are evolving slowly and gradually and is taking shape in which various organizations and stakeholder are involved. Various areas and development are taking place related to this. Quoting the poem – ‘On the Seashore’ by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore, he draws the attention of all present to preserve the innocence of the children at all cost. It is the sole purpose of all the stakeholders to retain their innocence.
“Members of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJBs) and CWCs need to acquaint themselves with the evolving and developing role relating to child and should developed child friendly nature to work for the welfare of them,” he asserted. He also appealed for co-concerted efforts to various institutions working for the welfare of the children as far as it is related with the issues of the children.
“Child Rights – Gaps and Challenges in North Eastern States of India’ is indeed a very relevant topic at present” stated Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen while delivering a Presidential speech. Minister draws the attention of the gatherings to pledge for the protection of our children today as without the welfare of the children, there will be no future for the society at large. Our future will be doomed without the welfare of our children because they are the happiness and strength of the society and of home, as well as of the future of the country, she added.
Minister Nemcha opined that every child has the right to information, the right to express his or her views and has the right to be involved in decision making affecting him or her. So, she urged all the parents and concerned people that children have the right to participate in the family, in schools, at child welfare institutions, orphanages, in the community and at National & International levels, as their active participation in the society has a profound impact on all.
Chairperson, NCPCR, Smt. Stuti Kacker lauded Chief Minister Shri N. Biren Singh for his distinctive knowledge of the problem where children are targeted and expressed that children of Manipur are in safe hands under the dynamic leader like him.
The consultation program which was organized by Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights and sponsored by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights with technical support from Social Welfare Department, Government of Manipur will be followed by a technical session. (DIPR)
