Children being killed while State child policy yet to be notified
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 15 2026:
As many as 20 children under the age of 18 years have lost their lives in incidents related to the violent Manipur conflict since May 3, 2023, yet the Manipur State Policy for Children, still a draft, is lying dormant since 2017 .
The draft State child policy was prepared in 2017, and it was revised by a State constituted committee after public consultation in 2020 .
Even as the revised draft was submitted to the relevant Government department in April 2025, it has not been notified and implemented yet as a policy even after a year.
While Manipur needs a proper State policy for children, its necessity has increased especially after the violent conflict broke out in Manipur, said Keisam Pradipkumar, Chairperson of the Manipur Commission for Protection of Children (MCPCR) .
The incidence of crimes against children has increased in Manipur after the violent conflict broke out in May 2023 .
However, the lack of a dedicated policy has rendered all State machinery for protection of children merely "reactive" in nature and "inadequate," Pradipkumar said, speaking to this paper.
"In absence of a State policy, the MCPCR and other child protection machinery are most of the time reacting to incidents after they have occurred.
Only a dedicated policy will help protect children and their rights more effectively and efficiently," he said.
"The draft Manipur State Policy for Children 2025 is already prepared and revised, and all that is left is for the State to approve it and notify," Pradipkumar said.
He recalled that the draft prepared in 2017 had undergone public consultation and revision in 2020 .
and the revised draft, incorporating inputs and suggestions including those received from the Cyber Crime Police, was submitted for approval and notification in 2025.Stressing the need for a dedicated policy, Pradipkumar said children form a chunk of the people who have been displaced by the conflict.
The violent conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023 displaced around 65,000 people and 25,000 of them are children, he said.
At least 20 children including 18 IDPs (internally displaced persons) under the age of 18 years have lost their lives in incidents related to the conflict, he said.
Some were allegedly raped, some were abducted, tortured and killed, he added.
The Women Action for Development (WAD) has records of at least 13 cases of crimes against children in the midst of the conflict These records, gathered from newspaper reports, show 8 cases are of killing and 3 are cases of suicide.
WAD secretary Sobita Mangshatabam said the Manipur conflict has had severe psychological and physical impacts on children.
With little efforts being taken up to curb violence, there is a high risk of children being subjected to crimes.
Children sleeping in their mother's bosom have not been spared and killed, Sobita said.
The WAD secretary was referring to the bomb attack on April 7, 2026 at Bishnupur's Tronglaobi which killed two children including a 5-year-old boy and a 5-month-old girl, and injured their mother.
In a previous case in November 2024, six persons, including three adult women and three children-aged 8 years, 2 years and 8-month-were abducted and killed by armed Kuki militants in Jiribam.
"Even in times of war, children are spared and great care is taken to ensure their safety under international laws.
However, what has happened in Manipur since May 3, 2023 has been the complete opposite," Sobita said.
The April 7 bomb attack that killed two children happened at a place where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is operational.
It reveals a callous disregard for safety of civilians and children, and hollowness of the security apparatus in place in the strifetom State, Sobita said.
"Maybe it is time for us to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Counter Terrorism and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women to Manipur for the Government of India to take action," Sobita added.
She also echoed the need for a dedicated State policy to safeguard children and protect their rights.
While the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights is active and is taking efforts to protect children, it is the duty of the Government to bring to life the State policy, stressed Pradipkumar, the Commission's Chairperson.
"The children of the State, who are our future, must not wait any longer.
The Government must consider giving its approval to the draft in the interests of the children," Pradipkumar said.
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