Uttam cautions against schooling offer outside state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 10 2024: If anyone makes an offer to take children in relief camps outside the state for free schooling in view of the prevailing crisis in Manipur, both the parents/guardians and the persons responsible for taking the children should inform the Child Welfare Committees (CWC) of the respective districts, Social Welfare director Ngangom Uttam has made it clear.

Speaking as chief guest of the 16th Foundation Day celebration of Patriotic Writers' Forum (PWF), Manipur held at Manipur Press Club, here, on Saturday, director Uttam called for seeking permission from the CWC concerned beforehand if any child staying in relief camp is to be taken outside the state for free schooling.

Information should be provided regarding which state the children are to be taken including the school and boarding facilities to be provided.

The department can then communicate with the local government to ascertain if the places/schools are suitable or not.

Appealing to the people to support the department in its efforts to save the children from any unwanted harm or dangerous situation, he said that every district has a juvenile police unit similar to women police stations.

Any child related case is to be brought to be notice of the juvenile police unit, just as it is convenient for women police to handle cases related to women.

Additionally, an Internal Compliance Committee has been set up in almost every department.

The Local Compliance Committee is set up at the DC level.

If any woman faces any problem at her workplace, a complaint could be filed at the Internal and Local Compliance Committees.

While the chairman of the Internal Compliance Committee will be senior lady officer, 50 per cent of the members must be women.

Any complaint to be committee must by heard to find out if the allegations are true or false, the director said.

Highlighting the importance of a long-term harmonious future for Manipur, Uttam urged for forgiving each other's mistakes and moving forward for restoring normalcy.

Apart from this, any form of division or separation will not help realise the dream of a united and developed Manipur.

As such, he urged for calming the anger of the younger generations and working at our respective levels to bring peace and tranquillity in Manipur.

He continued that the prevailing crisis is not the first to occur in the state.

Many village volunteers are guarding villages in the periphery areas and many cases have been filed at the Manipur High Court and the Supreme Court.

Additionally.

NIA and CBI will be tasked with the responsibility of finding out who caused the conflict or is to be blame, or who is manipulating the same directly or indirectly.

Also, the war of words on social medial platforms needs to be handled properly so as to bring about a political solution.

Truthfully, there are many ways to put an end to the crisis, he remarked.

Meanwhile, there are many women organisations in the state.

However, the question is how many intellectuals are part of these organisations.

If any woman in government services have the chance, they should make suggestions and advise the organisations.

The best option would be to set up an advisory board to handle with real women issues, so as to assist in deliberating the related matters from time to time and in formation of related polices.

The celebration was also attended by PWF president Naoroibam Khamba Luwang as president, Imphal East former up-adhyakshya Dr Kshetri Tama and former Hiyangthang ZP, Imphal West Sarangthem Shilasana Devi as guests of honours.

As part of the celebration, recipients of national, state and other awards were honoured.

Floral tributes were also offered to the portraits of deceased members of the Forum on the occasion.

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