Workshop on POCSO Act, child marriage held
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 18 2022: District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Imphal of the Department of Social Welfare organised a one-day sensitisation cum workshop on POCSO Act, Adoption Regulations and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act at the Imperial Hall of Hotel Classic Grande, here on Monday.

Social Welfare joint director (ICDS) Bantee Singh Konthoujam and district child protection officer, Imphal West Yurembam Indramani attended the inauguration programme as the presidium members.

Speaking on the occasion, Bantee observed that most of the crimes related to outraging modesty of minor girls are committed by their relatives or near and dear ones.

In order to protect children from such heinous crimes, it is imperative to make the parents aware about the provisions of POSCO Act, the joint director, stressed while conceding that the department is facing various roadblocks including shortage of manpower for Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in reaching out at the grassroots level.

He then urged ICDS supervisors to extend helping hands in activities related with ICPS.

Further highlighting the need to create awareness on the negative impact of child marriage and penalty provision for parents or guardians allowing or facilitating child marriage, he also noted that though issueless couples found it hard to adopt a child earlier, they can conveniently expand the family through child adoption subsequent to implementation of adoption regulation.

Bantee maintained that a new policy adopted by the central government requires Aadhaar linkage of child beneficiaries at the Anganwadi Centres concerned, failing which there are possibilities of shifting location of the Anganwadi centre.

He then appealed to ICDS supervisors and Anganwadi workers to ensure maximum coverage of Aadhaar lingage for beneficiaries in their respective centres.

During the workshop, DCPU Imphal West Child Marriage Prohibition Officer/Legal cum Probation officer Khaidem Premjit spoke on 'Prohibition of Child Marriage Act'; former chairman of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Imphal West and High Court advocate Irengbam Bikram on 'Adoption Regulations'; and former chairman of CWC Imphal West and High Court advocate Thiyam Rajkishore deliberated on 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act' as resource persons.

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