MACR lauds MHRC's prompt action
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 30 2020:
The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has expressed gratitude to the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) for passing an order today, directing the concerned authorities of the State's Social Welfare Department and Education Department/SSA to provide entitled food grains along with sanitary items to the children, who are enrolled as beneficiaries of National flagship schemes such as ICPS, ICDS and Midday Meal schemes, to ensure that children do not suffer any food crisis during the ongoing 21 days Nationwide lockdown placed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A statement issued by MACR narrated that Keisam Pradipkumar, Executive Member of MACR, filed a complaint case to MHRC on March 28 on behalf of the alliance, drawing the immediate attention of the State's human rights body to intervene into the miserable conditions faced by many children as a result of the ongoing Nationwide lockdown.
It continued that the directives of the MHRC covers all children who are living in different Child Care Institutions (children's home, shelter homes, observation and special homes, place of safety, State Adoption Centres) under ICPS scheme, all the young children who are entitled to "Ready to Eat" food items under ICDS, and children of Government and aided schools across the State, who are entitled to get Midday Meal provisions.
The petitioner also requested to provide the entitled food grains to the children under home delivery system.
The acting Chairperson of MHRC, Khaidem Mani has notified three weeks times to the heads of concerned departments to submit the action taken reports to the MHRC, it mentioned adding that MACR would like to appeal to all concerned, to cover every child living in a family, while distributing rice or other food items during the pandemic, and not to exclude them based on the reasoning that he/she is not enrolled in the voters' list.