120 up for 6 posts in State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR)
Thick cloud of apprehensions over political appointment prevails
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 04 2012: With as many as 120 candidates, all 'big-shots' clamouring for the six posts to be appointed for the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) under state Social Welfare Department, there is strong apprehensions that all the six members may end up being political appointees.

Among the 120 candidates aiming for the six posts in SCPCR, 20 are fighting out for the lone top post of Chairman while the remaining are eying for the posts of members.

Interestingly, official sources revealed that among the applicants very few of them have been associated with issues relating to child rights.

As such, there is high possibility of 'political connections' deciding the fate of the applicants.

When asked about his opinion on the issue, Keisham Pradeepkumar, Convener of Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, who is also the State representative of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), said that the step being taken up by the State Government to institute SCPCR is indeed appreciable.

In fact, it is long pending demand of the child rights activists in the state.

In other North Eastern States including Assam and Tripura, SCPCRs have been already established.

Since SCPCR is to be instituted in Manipur for the first time, what everyone is concern most today is the recruitment process of its Chairperson and members.

Pradeepkumar pointed out the need to recruit well experienced persons in the field of child rights and stated that if the recruitment process is carried away on political grounds, there will always be problems in the smooth functioning of the Commission, thereby reducing it to a mere commission existing only in name sake.

"The members of SCPCR should be well equipped to handle all cases of child rights violation and be able to monitor them and made necessary recommendations for early resolution of the cases", Pradeepkumar observed, while adding that if the members and Chairperson of the Commission are recruited from amongst the ill-trained persons through political influences, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights would be compelled to take up various actions.

In view of the prevailing conflict situation, the impact of which has not left the young children as well, people have high expectations from the establishment of SCPCR in the state.

It has been expected that SCPCR also would help in proper implementation of Right to Education Act, which guaranteed free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years as a fundamental rights under the Constitution of India.

The Commission is also to serve as a monitoring body to check various child rights violation cases in the State like rape, molestation, murder and the like which are reported from different parts of the State more often than not.

Pradeepkumar stressed on the need to have specific criteria for the recruitment of Chairperson and members in the Commission.

"It will not be a proper decision to select members by just looking at their certificates.

Their experiences in the related field are essential and should be given top priority," he added.

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