Nagaland and NCPCR officials call for stronger implementation of child rights laws

KOHIMA — Commissioner & Secretary, Department of School Education and SCERT, Kevileno Angami, on Wednesday noted that stakeholders have a critical role to play in creating a conducive environment for children to thrive without exploitation in the society.

The Commissioner & Secretary was addressing the state-level conference on ‘Implementation of key child rights legislations’ on education, juvenile justice and POCSO at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima.

Kevileno called upon the stakeholders, including school managements, teachers, parents and the society to create that kind of environment in their own capacities for the children to grow.

Mentioning that there are existing legislations to protect children, she however questioned whether the state is really implementing them or not. She called for providing access to education to the children as desired.

India has a fairly comprehensive policy and legal framework addressing the rights and protection of children. These included Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act (2000, amended in 2015), The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012), and The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (1986, amended in 2016), she said.

“However, only through the combined efforts of the government, NGOs, communities, and individuals, we can ensure that these rights are not just words on paper but guiding principles that shape a brighter future for our children,” she added.

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Kevileno further emphasised the ten fundamental rights of a child in India including, the right to survival, education, protection, participation, development, health and well-being, identity, expression, non-discrimination, and a safe environment.

These rights are not mere words but promises that must be fulfilled. By upholding these rights, including the rights of child in India to protection, it creates an environment where every Indian child can dream, learn, play, and grow without fear or limitations, she summed up.

Over 2300 children rescued in last 6 months

KPJ Gerald, senior consultant at the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), while highlighting the significant milestones of the last six months, informed that approximately 26,000 complaints were resolved to ensure timely action on child rights violations.

More than 2,300 children were rescued from sensitive situations like trafficking in collaboration with state commissions and district-level officials.

Over 1,000 children were repatriated to Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in their home districts.

Review was conducted on education-related issues such as corporal punishment, school safety, and mental health support. District and state level workshops were organised, focusing on the prohibition of corporal punishment and mental harassment in schools, and on the JJ and POCSO Acts.

These achievements, he noted, were made possible with the contributions and corporation of the officials at the grassroots level in the states and districts. 

Gerald said that the violation of any child's right affects not only their life but also the future of society and it is the duty of every official, teacher, parent, and citizen to play an active role in the protection of child rights.

He went on to inform that the commission is focusing on several priority areas and innovative initiatives in the coming days. Focus will be given on children's mental health especially in the post-pandemic period, to ensure counselling and psychological support is available for children in schools and institutions. Advanced Al tools are being used to prevent online Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Uniform data standards are being prepared to create a consolidated database of complaints.

He further informed that the commission has also issued an advisory to install ‘Sugar Boards’ in schools affiliated with all national and state boards.

The main objective of this initiative is to raise awareness among children about sugar consumption and encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyle choices. So far, 14 states have implemented this advisory, and approximately 6 lakh schools have joined this initiative.

Chairman Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Alun Hangsing, pointed out that child issues are not only confined to child abuses in different forms or in conflict with laws but also the mental health, physical health and emotional health.

He noted that the significance of children as the backbone of a nation was fully realised and well understood as early as in the 18th century, and accordingly, all mechanisms relating to the protection and development of children were kept in place under proper check and balance.

Hangsing believed that the state can also achieve it when government of the day showed concern and commitment to the well-being of the children and in protecting their rights.

Nagaland adopted the CPCR Act 2005, and the Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR), an autonomous statutory body with legal power, was set up in Oct 2013, and NSCPCR Rules was framed in 2015. The Act mandates the Commission to monitor and ensure that all laws, policies, programmes and administrative mechanisms are in consonance with the child rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution.

“So in short, that is the main purpose of the commission, and I hope the participants of this august gathering will surely benefit from this workshop/conference relating to children with some takeaway points,” he said.

Organised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in collaboration with the Department of School Education, representatives from the district administration, Social Welfare department, Nagaland Police, teachers of both the government and private entities attended the conference.