MCPCR stresses on effective child policy in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 15 2025: "If the Manipur State Child Policy is formulated, it would not only held check the malaise of child trafficking and child labour, but also be beneficial in providing free and compulsory education to all children," stated Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar.

He made the statement at a sensitisation cum consultation workshop organised jointly by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and MCPCR on the topic "Combating Child Trafficking in Manipur" at Manipur Press Club here on Wednesday.

Pradipkumar continued that Manipur currently tops in children suffering from mental health issues owing to the conflict.

"The number of child trafficking cases are also increasing at an alarming rate," he said, informing that both the Social Welfare Department and MCPCR have rescued around 60 kids who were trafficked outside the state under the pretext of free education amid the conflict.

While citing reports of some children living in unfavourable conditions in Kerala, he revealed that after verifying all facts, the children would be reunited with their parents if they are under distress.

He then advised parents and guardians to contact the Department before sending off their children to prevent any scam or trafficking incidents.

Pradipkumar also urged the government to announce a Manipur State Child Policy to prevent such cases, while stressing the need for strengthening government educational institutions including deploying specially trained teachers and providing free education to the higher level to better help the children and specifically the students who have been affected both mentally and academically by the conflict.

"As long as the children are able to study properly, child trafficking and child labour cases will inevitably go down," he observed, and called for concerted efforts to prevent students from dropping out of schools.

In his speech, Imphal West DC Th Kirankumar noted that the conflict has affected all children including both the displaced and non-displaced, with child trafficking cases on the rise and stressed the need for properly discerning child rights violations and rectifying the same.

Speaking on the topic of "Preventing Child Trafficking", MCPCR programme officer Sumel Yumnam noted that most child traffickers often times happen to be people known to the victim and their families.

"The traffickers target children from poor families, orphans or those not living with their parents, either through sweet talking or threats.

Thus, parents and guardians need to keep a close eye on their wards.

If a child goes missing, the missing report should be filed within an hour, as per the new guidelines," he informed.

The workshop was attended by Social Welfare director Ng Uttam, CID Crime Branch SP Rashini Yengkhom and Crime Against Women & Child SP Ph Maheshori as presidium members.

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