Budget for child rights suggested
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, August 23 2013 : National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has suggested to have separate budgets by the state governments in the North East for the protection of child rights.

NCPCR member in-charge of North East, VK Tiku said this in Imphal on the concluding day of the two-day state level workshop on "Substance Abuse Among Children" at Hotel Classic here.

VK Tiku regretted that the state governments are not doing enough to safeguard the rights of the children.

"Violation of the right to education leads the children to indulge in drugs and other unwanted substances, and so strict implementation of the right to education is very important," said VK Tiku while talking to media persons here.

He then proposed that schools should start awareness and counseling programmes on drug abuse.

"Next to Mizoram, Manipur is one state very high in the drug abuse cases by children from 18 years to 20 years of age," revealed the NCPCR member.

He lashed out at the law enforcing agencies and authorities concerned in Manipur for not doing enough in thwarting the drug menace in the state.

"The chief minister of the state had assured to stop all these drug trafficking cases in Manipur and let us see how it works out," stated VK Tiku.

Yesterday, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had said the easiest way to deal with the problem of mass consumption of tobacco products among minors is to completely ban production and sale of this substance in the country.

Participating in the inaugural function of a two-day state level workshop on "Substance Abuse Among Children" at Hotel Classic here, Ibobi had said that the state Cabinet has already decided to ban sale of all tobacco products in the state and that the law enforcing agencies are constantly seizing these items.

Ibobi had also said, "If we want to completely ban tobacco products, I believe we must completely stop its production" .

The Chief Minister had further suggested that charging heavy taxes or price on these products to make children beyond their capacity to buy them will also certainly help in controlling its abuse.

Ibobi had then assured that the state Government will take up steps to deal with the problem of tobacco use.

NCPCR members VK Tiku (in-charge Northeast) and Dr Yogesh Dubey, and A Nabachandra Singh, Chairperson, Manipur State Commission for Child Rights, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga, Principal Secretary for Social Welfare, Barun Mittra participated in the event.

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