MACR writes to MHRC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 29 2020: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has written to the Manipur Human Rights Commission to give directives to the State to provide food grains to children who are benefi-ciaries of Midday Meal, ICDS, ICPS schemes through a special arrangement amidst the lockdown due to COVID-19 .

Stating that the lockdown is having severe impact on thousands of children, who mostly belong to socially and economically disadvantaged families, the MACR said they should be provided the required daily nutrients to keep them healthy.

Most of the families are currently facing untold hardships because of lack of food grains, MACR noted emphasising the need for a special arrangement to provide mid-day meal to the children under the ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme), ICPS (Integrated Child Protection Scheme) and MDM (Midday Meal) schemes in the State.

The MACR in its representation, urged the Manipur Human Rights Commission to issue directives to provide basic food grains, soaps, masks, sanitisers and disinfectants to the 64 Government recognized and supported Child Care Institutions (CCIs) operational in the State under ICPS of Ministry of Women and Child Development, being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur.

These 64 numbers of CCls are currently housing around 3,200 children, who are declared as "Children in Need of Care and Protection" (CNCP) under The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, said MACR.

It also stressed that NGOs concerned running the CCls are in need of special arrangement as they are facing inexpressible difficulties because of the ongoing 21 day total lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Ready to eat food items, food grains entitled for children, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls under Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) of ICDS project being implemented by Department of Social Welfare, should be made available to the beneficiaries of Anganwadi Centres operational in every locality of the State, added the MACR.

The Midday Meal is an integral part of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, which is a fundamental right, MACR said appealing that the the meal should be delivered to the children at their door-steps during the lockdown.

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