Govt urged to implement State Policy for Children
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 16 2024:
Considering the fact that there are 25,000 children below 18 years of age who have been affected by the ethnic violence in the state, there is the need on the part of the government to effectively implement the 'Manipur State Policy for Children 2020', stated Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar.
A convergence workshop for stakeholders working in child rights and education field was organised by MCPCR in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha-Manipur at Manipur Press Club, here, on Friday.
In his address, K Pradipkumar said that over 60,000 people have been displaced from their home and hearth due to the conflict, of which around 40 per cent are children below 18 years of age.
As such, the workshop has been organised with the objective of ensuring coordination with the departments concerned to ensure protection of rights of the children with regard to health, education, food and others.
He continued that if the government sincerely wants to ensure well-being of the children living in relief camps both in the hills and the valley, it should see to the effective implementation of 'Manipur State Policy for Children 2020', as published in the Gazette on November 12 of the same year.
Pradipkumar then appealed to all concerned not to involve the children in the conflict or disturb them in any way.
Any shadow of hatred should not be cast on the children, he stressed, while reminding that it is the responsibility of all to protect children and women from any armed conflict, as is the rule of any conflict.
Social Welfare director Ng Uttam and Samagra Shiksha-Manipur additional state project director Soraisam David spoke as resource persons at the event.
In the first technical session of the workshop, which was moderated by the MCPCR chairperson, RTE Samagra Shiksha resource person and KGVB & Residential Schools' coordinator Haobam Leishembi Chanu spoke on 'Placement of displaced children in residential schools: Challenges and responsibilities'.
The second session was presided over by K Pradipkumar and moderated by MCPCR consultant and advocate Rakesh Meihoubam.
ICPS, Social Welfare Department programme officer Mala Lish-am spoke on 'Status on inclusion of displaced children under sponsorship program (Mission Vatsalya Scheme)' and MCPCR consultant and advocate Thiyam Rajkishore on 'Prerogatives of the Commission: Convergence with stakeholders - MASLSA, SW, Education (S), CWCs, JJBs, DCPUs and others' .