Panel constituted to help curb violence against children

In the wake of the alarming rate of violence against children in State, the Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR) constituted a special State Level Coordination Committee on Monday.

Experts from different fields have been involved in this committee to provide apposite advice and review the work of associates engaged in the task of spreading awareness about child rights at different level.

The working committee has engaged officials of Plan International, Srijan Foundation, Bachpan Bacchao Aandolan (BBA), District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)-Ranchi, District Child Protection Officer (DCPO)-Ranchi, Child Welfare Committee (CWC)-Ranchi. The members of working committee have been instructed to submit a detailed blueprint of their findings to JSCPCR Chairperson on or before March 8.

Expanding the reach of the NGOs working for the protection of child rights beyond urban populace, the committee will collectively work to resolve the cases in stimulated time. In a meeting organized with the stakeholders, JSCPCR Chairperson, Arti Kujur asked the participants of the newly constituted committee to work covering larger perspective while taking care of the fact that it should actively function and expand its base even in the remotest area.

The meeting saw the participation of civil society members, child right activists, police personnel including others. This special State Level Committee will cover suggestions for long term preventive programme for all age groups with the basic legal knowledge. Involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in disseminating the information and developmental status of each block will be constantly monitored by the committee.

“The dedicated committee will work primarily to curtail the cases of violence against children which normally goes unreported most of the time. The committee will maintain a database covering major points like number of cases, vulnerable districts and blocks, types of cases, methodologies being used to curb such incidents, universal coverage etc,” said the JSCPCR Chairperson. 

Meanwhile, the members of civil society during the meet discussed about their plan of actions, activities undertaken in the recent time in vulnerable districts, blocks including innovative ways being adopted to spread awareness among the public.

A representative of CHILD LINE (1098) said that the cases of child abuse, child trafficking and child marriages are recorded in sufficient number from across the State and only through collaboration with schools, educational institutions; children can be guided on different facets of child rights.

During the meeting, the members of JSCPCR and NGO representatives emphasized on spreading legal awareness among the citizens taking up the issue of POSCO act which was recently amended on April 21 that allows death penalty for the rape of children below the age of 12.