Advisories issued for protection of displaced kids
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 10 2024:
Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has issued a set of advisories to be followed by departments concerned for ensuring the protection of basic rights of the internally displaced children.
The advisories have come in the backdrop of rescuing five kids from a school in Nasik, Maharashtra recently.
According to the advisories, Education Department and ZEOs concerned, private school authorities should ensure that no child in the age group 6-18 years is left out of school or drop out by enrolling all the displaced children; 'no child' who is displaced should be deprived of continuing his/her education in the same school (if the school is unaffected by the violence and conducive to continue study); steps must be taken up by the school authorities for refunding admission or other fees already paid at the time of admission if children were compelled to leave the school due to conflict; private school authorities must provide 25 per cent reservation under RTE norms; the state Education Department must ensure that all the internally displaced children are enrolled in schools and their uniforms, textbooks, stationary items are provided on priority basis; provide remedial education programme to the needy displaced children on regular and need-based basis; every relief centre must reserve a 'learning centre' exclusively for children; update the number of children in each and every relief centre and monitor their migration or placement, if any, to ensure no child falls in the hands of child traffickers; career link vocational training, life skill development programme must be provided to the students in sustained manner in all relief camps and displaced children should be sent to state or central government funded residential schools set up in the state on top priority basis.
MCPCR also said that no child residing in the relief camps should be deprived of their right to receive a 'hot cook meal a day to fulfill the mandate of Midday Meal Scheme.
Regarding the responsibilities of health department, the advisories mentioned that regular medical check-up of the children with free medicines facilities must be taken up; facilities for counseling, treatment and life skill educations must be readily available as and when required and for that a 24x7 Medical helpline must be made operational.
Moreover, girl child and adolescent girls must be provided adequate support to maintain their personal hygiene and care by providing requirements such as sanitary pads, toiletry items, inner-wears from time to time.
No victim child, especially who have lost their parents in the ongoing conflict should be used as publicity objects only to over sensationalise or to attract target audience through YouTube, Facebook, Reels, News, Podcast and other social media platforms, without caring the possible negative impacts to mental and emotional wellbeing of the child/children.
Specific sensible arrangements for the Gender Non-conforming Community or Third Gender Community should be taken up; special provisions must be arranged for the differently-able children, who are displaced or found in relief camps, the advisories mentioned among others.
Police department, child welfare committees, DC-PUs, VLCPCS, Women police stations, cyber-crime police units should be always alert in order to regularly monitor the living conditions of children and their vulnerabilities while residing in relief camps, MCPCR advised, while adding that apex bodies of media such as AMWJU/Editors' Guild Manipur must be vigilant and prescribe ethical guidelines for print and electronic media including admins, who frequently upload videos, films, interviews of victim children on different media or social media platforms, to control any inappropriate, highly sensationalised or provocative exposure of displaced children, or orphaned children as a result of the conflict.
Meanwhile, MCPCR chairman Keisam Pradipkumar has informed all concerned including parents/guardians/agencies/organisations, who have recently sent their minor wards/students/children outside Manipur for studies during the present crisis in Manipur to submit the detailed particulars of the children and institutions, where the children are currently staying, to the commission on or before February 14 without fail.
He stated that for sending of minors without their parents/guardians outside Manipur, a due verification by concerned child welfare committee is mandatory to avoid any legal complications.
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