Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 12 2013: Release of the 2012-13 annual report and pledges by top officials for relentless effort to protect rights of the children marked the first foundation day celebration of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) held today at the conference hall of Directorate of Social Welfare department, 2nd MR Gate.

Conceding that the Commission being in the emergent stage and lacking requisite infrastructure and fund had been some of the impediments for the Commission not able to fully realise its potential, Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) Barun Mitra, who was the event's chief guest, said to make Integrated Child Protection Scheme a viable and vibrant programme the MCPCR has forwarded annual plan proposal to the Ministry of Women and Child for necessary funding.

As guest of honour, Director (SW) L Ibobi Singh highlighted that compared to the past when there was no Government agency to take up child rights violation cases, subsequent setting up of Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board in India and MCPCR in the State, has been providing a platform to air grievances as well as address them.

Stating that inspite of existence of Social Welfare Department, the department had limited jurisdiction to settle disputes legally as it was mainly confined to nutrition of children, he said since implementation of ICPS in 2009 in the country under Juvenile Justice Act cases related to violation of child rights could be taken up in the appropriate court of law.

The Director also informed that despite belated implementation of ICPS in Manipur necessary recruitment process has been completed to ensure that the Scheme is effectively implemented in Manipur.

From among the recruited personnel of ICPS requisite strength for district level functioning would be distributed under the district magistrate concerned, Ibobi said while conveying that some of the recruited personnel would also be utilised to fill vacant posts in the MCPCR.

In the formative year, MCPCR was allocated only Rs 5 lakh fund with no subordinate staff or vehicle, he maintained.

The first year of the Commission as pointed out in its annual report included recommendation to the State Government for immediate necessary action regarding collection of capitation fee and subjecting children or their parents/guardians to screening as part of the admission process for the 2013-14 academic session by some private schools run by the Catholic Society.

As the said process was in violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, the Director of Education (S) subsequently took prompt action and issued necessary notification to stop the admission tests, mentioned the report.

In other cases, the Commission pulled up the Principal of a private school based on complaint of a girl student's parents that their child studying in class VI was expelled without giving any reason; initiation for repatriation of 23 children of Manipur trafficked to Rajasthan; registration of suo motu case in connection with 15 children losing consciousness inside their school van on May; inspection of Central Jails in Sajiwa and Imphal to ascertain report about detention of under-aged prisoners and subsequent confirmation about 26 inmates being below 19 years of age; recommendation to the State Government for necessary action on the report about missing children forwarded by the Child Welfare Committee, Imphal West district; similar action on a sexual assault case against a 16 year old girl; directive to the Labour Department to furnish number of child labour in the State; inspection and subsequent vacating of Chadong High School, Ukhrul district by security force; inspection of various schools to find out whether requisite infrastructure such as ramps, special toilets, special chair, special trained teachers for students with disabilities are in place.

According to the annual report, the Commission has been awaiting information from State departments concerned regarding number of hostels/boardings run by Government/private schools in the nine districts; list of schools recognised by the Education department under RTE; details about children home/observation home; information on 36 victims of child trafficking in Karnataka; progress report about 23 repatriated victims of trafficked children from Rajasthan; information about child labour; and action taken report on missing children from police stations concerned.

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