IMPHAL, September 28: A one day district level consultation programme on “Child Rights,” organized by the Child Welfare Committee, Thoubal under the sponsorship of the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur, was held at the Tennis Indoor Stadium, Thoubal College Road, Thoubal today.
Addressing the function as the chief guest, Ak Mirabai, said that the state commission for protection of child rights will be functioning soon as the screening test has been completed and other preparations are also nearing to completion.
She further said that with the formation of the committee the number of cases related to child rights will definitely go down. The nine districts of the state have its own Child Welfare Committee (CWC), but due to the poor financial status of the state, many works could not be carried out. There is a provision for formation of line departments to solve this problem, she added.
Since the year 2009 till today many socking incidents have been reported where numbers of children were taken to outside state by giving false promises to their parents for better education but later it was found out that the children were tortured and made to work forcefully, she said and added that their department has rescued 305 numbers of children from such cases.
She continued that in some cases body parts of children are also sold out for money. What steps can be taken up against such cases of child trafficking, need to be discussed to save the children.
The government is also working on the proper implementation of ‘Senior Citizen Act 2007.’
NGOs who are working under the Social Welfare department after receiving the grant have not done their assigned work which has made the department looks like it has not done its work. She further appealed the NGOs to work for the sake of future generation.
G Satyabati, who attended the function as the guest of honour, said that the children are pillars of the nation so it is very important to look after them carefully and for this the government has passed ‘Juvenile Justice Act.’ The Line department should also keep a check on Child rights violation, she added.
Children needs proper counselling for motivation, parents should not use abusive words or capital punishment to correct their mistakes, it is against the Juvenile Justice Act, she said.
The hill districts, Chandel, Senapati and Ukhrul are more prone to child trafficking cases. In valley districts some case of child trafficking were reported in Thoubal and Bishnupur districts, she further said.
“When a crime is committed, civil organizations should not take law into their hands and should not burn down houses or killed the persons involved in the crime. These kinds of acts will affect the psychology of children and people need to understand this,” she said
“There are also many other reports of young girls taken to outside state for employment but return home bring dreadful diseases. This kind of act is very unfortunate and we need to be aware of such things,” she added.
O Landhoni, who attended the function as the president, also added that parents need to look after their children with great care and if they are going to do that it is better for them not to have children.
Other news
In another incident, Imphal West Police Commandos arrested one active PREPAK(PRO) cadre at Keisampat today.
Police source said the activist is identified as Atom Olemba alias Ahan Meitei, 43 years, son of A Chaoba Meitei of Kwakeithel Thounaojam Leikai.