MCPCR bats for displaced kids
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 11 2025:
The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has taken a significant step towards ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of internally displaced children in Manipur, with a special focus on those in Jiribam.
The Commission has submitted a comprehensive list of recommendations to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and Commissioners and Directors of different departments, based on its findings from a field visit and a two-day camp sitting held at Jiribam from December 15, 2024 .
As per a report made available to The Sangai Express, MCPCR recommended immediate relief and compensation, psychological and emotional support, speedy investigation and trial of cases, security and protection measures, education and rehabilitation support, livelihood and skill programme, strengthening child protection mechanism, healthcare and nutrition support and long term conflict resolution measures to address the specific needs and challenges faced by displaced children in Jiribam, who have been affected by the ongoing crisis in the region.
The Commission's report highlights the importance of ensuring the protection and well-being of these children, who are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and neglect.
Immediate relief and compensation
The MCPCR recommended providing immediate ex-gratia to the families of three women and three children who were killed by Kuki militants in their custody in November last year.
The Commission also suggested issuance of death certificates without delay to facilitate financial and legal support for affected families.
Speedy investigation and trial
The Commission recommended that the authorities expedite the investigation into the brutal murders and ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits.
MCPCR also asked the authorities to provide periodic status reports on the investigation to the Commission.
Psychological and emotional support
The MCPCR advised the authorities to deploy child psychologists and counsellors to provide trauma counselling and psychological support in relief camps, establish child friendly spaces within relief camps and conduct regular mental health and well being assessments for affected children.
Security and protection measures
The Commission advised relocation of all IDPs to safer locations, strengthening of security measures around relief camps, implementation of proactive measures for vulnerable children, especially unaccompanied minors and orphans and ramping up of patrolling and monitoring in conflict-prone zones.
Education and rehabilitation support
The Commission recommended providing extended bridge course facilities to the displaced students to adapt to new education environments, distribution of necessary educational materials, mid-day meals, text books and uniform to displaced students and arranging of scholarships and sponsorships under Government schemes such as Mission Vatsala by increasing district wise allocation for sponsorship in the affected districts on priority basis.
Livelihood and skill development programme
The MCPCR advised the authorities to introduce skill development and vocational training for youth and women in relief camps and provide financial assistance or micro loans to help the displaced families rebuild their livelihood.
Strengthening child protection mechanism
The Commission advised the authorities to empanel dedicated Child Protection Officers and voluntary organisations to monitor and address the needs of children in relief camps and to establish a grievance redressal mechanism to report cases of exploitation and abuse .
Healthcare and nutrition support
Ensure availability of paediatric healthcare services, including routine vaccination supplementary nutrition programme in all relief camps, set up mobile medical unit for regular health check-ups of children and pregnant women and upgrade the Jiribam CSC Hospital to a full fledged district hospital, the MCPCR recommended.
Long term conflict resolution measures
The Commission recommended promotion of peace building and reconciliation initiatives and inter community dialogue, implementation of campaigns on humanitarian laws, fundamental human rights basic child rights among civil society organisations, village volunteers and armed groups involved in the conflict and strengthening of law enforcement and judicial mechanism.
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