Improve communication, says MHRC member

The Imphal Free Press

Imphal, May 27: In order to reduce human rights violations in the state the transport and communication must be good, said Ng Nongyai, member of the Manipur Human Rights Commission.The statement was given during a one-day consultation on child rights jointly organised by Coalition on Children’s Rights to Protection (CCRP) Manipur and Child Welfare Committee Ukhrul today at the conference hall of TTA Ukhrul.He further said that in order to stop the high rate of human rights violation in the state the roads between hill districts must be good. Joining the hills and valley there should be a ring road and if necessary there must also be air communication, he added.He also said there is high rate of human trafficking and child labour and we must protect the rights of the children. As the state is in the border area many parents died due to HIV/AIDS and the children faced a lot of problem due to conflict zone.He asked the government to extent help to such children and said that the children living in the Children Homes of Manipur are facing many problems as they got only Rs. 13 per day from the government which is not sufficient for their daily requirements and studies.Dr. VL Mingthing, director, TTA Ukhrul said that although the north east was in the conflict zone people do not know about it due to lack of communication. Our communication must be made stronger otherwise our children in future will be nowhere, added Mingthing asking for hard work from NGOs working in the field.

Child trafficking case detected

The Imphal Free Press

Imphal,

May 25: Child trafficking in the state has become rampant though many organizations are appealing it to stop immediately. In Manipur people not only live the life of harassment and torture given by conflict but also face many problem which the state government consider minor issues.Many children, most of them who are below poverty line are the victims. A case of 16 unfortunate children who hails from various district of Manipur is an example.The 16 children from Bishenpur district were kept by a man namely Deben from Ithing Thanga who is also said to be a pastor and sent to a missionary home at Chennai which is known as “Oasis Children Home”. The child welfare committee, Bishnupur district and sustainable development centre, Moirang rescued the children and brought back to their native place and handed over to their respective parents to get their childhood rights.This is not the first issue of child trafficking in the state. In the recent past many such cases have come up, but people forget such issue within two or three days.Narrating to IFP about his days at Oasis Children Home Rajesh (name changed) said that he was ill treated at the centre by his warden (which every children staying there called her “Mummy”).She used to beat me with stick everytime I didn’t work, and I was not allowed to play with other children and instead she gave works to do like washing clothes of others, washing dish, sweeping floors and many more said Rajesh emotionally.According to the statement made by the parents the said person Deben promise the parents (mostly who are living below poverty line) to give their children a better education in Chennai and the parents will have a proper communication with their children as well as they can also visit their children anytime and the children will have two time vacation annually.But such promises are lies since the parents were not let to talk with their children and when the parents went to the Home at Chennai to take back home the founder of the Home identified as Padma Mudaliar did not allow to take back their children. But later early in this month a order has been sent to Oasis children Home, chennai by Child Welfare Committee, Bishnupur District Chairperson Pishak and sustainable development centre which the children Home accept and released the children.On the other hand talking to IFP the CWC, chairperson Pishak maintained that the whole process of taking the children to a outside Home is totally illegal since anyone did not inform CWC in this regard. And if anyone wants to keep their children to a outside Children Home then each and every person should first take the consent of CWC.He further noted that while the parents who went to Chennai to take back their children did not allow to take their children. So, the parents informed chairperson and when the Chairperson asked the founder of the home to release the children she (founder of the Children Home) told him that the children were brought at the centre by saying that they are all orphan. And many expenditure have been done on this children and if the parents want to take back their children they need to pay those amounts which has been used on them and asked him to instruct the parents to sign an agreement.But the chairperson who did not agree with the founder’s statement told her to release children without any condition since the children are taken by a fake person who gave false information to parents. And any such case has also been informed to CWC, said Pishak.Though the children are brought back in their native place many of them who have been staying for more 3 to 4 years have forgotton even their parents and unable to speak their mother language (Manipuri). Some of the grown up children never want to stay back in their children Home at Chennai while few of the small kids again want to stay at their children Home.Among the sixteen children rescued five are girls while eleven are boys who are from Thanga, Kairanphabi and Ithing under Bishnupur district.

Panel Discussion on Child Rights Issues - Montu Ahanthem along with Social welfare Director Shri S. Sarat and CWC member K. Pradeep

Attention drawn to plights of orphaned

SANGHAI EXPRESS

Staff ReporterIMPHAL,

May 6: With the figure of children who lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS infections coming to the fore an Imphal east district-based NGO called ‘Child Welfare Committee’ has drawn the attention of both the Central and State Governments to the plight of the orphaned children.Moreover, a medical expert while pointing out that psychological impact to the young children of AIDS victim parents is even more critical and requires redressal efforts also conceded that even the RIMS had not been taking into account severity of this problem. Addressing newspersons this afternoon in connection with the observance of World AIDS Orphans Day tomorrow, the member secretary of the Imphal East district Committee Keisham Pradipkumar highlighted that inspite of uncountable number of children made to suffer for no faults of theirs the Government is yet to acknowledge plight of these children.He cautioned that even though the parents succumb to HIV/AIDS children born to such parents are not always infected with the disease and that these children should be ensured all possible care and attention for a secure future.The ‘media meet’ was hosted and held at the Singjamei office of FXB India Suraksha Manipur branch to highlight numerous problems besieging children who had been rendered parent-less and are in dire need for protection under the patronage of the Government.Pointing out that india is home to over two million children who lost their parents to the scourge of HIV/AIDS pandemic, the NGO functionary expressed strong resentment that inspite of gravity of the problem the Government is yet to devise a mechanism including passing of a legislation to insure social and medical security of these children.Regarding role of the State Government to address the issue he enlisted setting up of orphanages exclusively for the AIDS orphaned children and entrusting dedicated doctors, nurses and counsellors to provide balm to the suffering children.Speaking at the occasion, Dr A Gajendra of the Psychiatry Department (RIMS) confessed that the premier medical institute is yet to study in-depth magnitude of the problem of children who lost their parents to AIDS.Noting that compared to the medical attention, these section of children are more in need of psychological assistance, Dr Gajendra expressed hope that the institute would not delay in taking up appropriate measures.Taking part in the media meet, Newsreader of All india Radio, Imphal Sapam Dilip elaborated on ‘Role of media in relation with the problem of HIV and AIDS infected and affected children’.He reminded that in the 1993 guidelines issued by the Press Council of india media establishments are required to deal or present the issue of people, including children, infected by the AIDS in an objective and positive manner in addition to sufficient slot in the broadcast and publication of related news.Editor of the ISTV cable news network, Rupachandra Yumnam stressed on the dedicated and positive role of the elders in mitigating problems endured by the young children.he said, notwithstanding wholehearted initiative by the parents for welfare of the children there arises circumstantial difficulties wherein children are exposed to risk as a consequence of either the parents infected by AIDS or due to financial constraints.

Call for more support for children on eve of AIDS Orphans Day

Imphal Free Press

Imphal, May 6: Children are vulnerable sections of the society and more so are those children who are living with HIV/AIDS. It is the state’s responsibility to look after them and give them protection.Making a call for children’s rights the celebration of “World AIDS Orphans Day” will be observed on May 7. A media awareness programme on the eve of the observation was conducted by the FXB India Suraksha Manipur branch, Singjamei Chongtham Leikai today with many resource persons discussing issues related to children, their rights, how to protect them, especially those who are orphaned and are living with HIV/AIDS.According to Dr. S Gajendra of the department of psychiatry at RIMS, the issue of HIV/AIDS was a relevant topic as around 20 million children were living with HIV/AIDS in the world today.There were many children who were orphaned either of one parent or both parents because of HIV/AIDS. Such children face psychological problems and trauma, depression, sleeplessness, restlessness and lack of appetite. Adults are able to speak out or express their problems freely, but the young children are unable to express themselves and find it difficult to share their problems with others. As a result, they have somatic problems, he said.Children who have lost either their father or mother due to HIV/AIDS and are living with only one of them have anxiety and always fear they might lose their other parent also.Dr. Gajendro further said that such orphaned children or those living with HIV/AIDS are always socially isolated fearing their friends or neighbours might reject them or that they might be separated from their siblings. Such psychological fears and trauma remain embedded in their tender minds for a long time subconsciously, he added.Only the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter are not enough for them. What they need most is guidance and counselling, he observed.Keisham Pradip Kumar, member secretary of the CWC, Imphal east emphasized the “Rights of the child under UNCRC” in his speech and said that the rights given to the children should be implemented and the government should ensure that children are properly cared for, protected and well looked after in the best interests of the children. Children have the right to live and the government should ensure that children survive and are healthy, he said.Pradip Kumar also explained about the child welfare committee and juvenile justice board and the major roles they were undertaking for the welfare of the children.Sapam Dilip, reporter with the AIR said that children living with HIV/AIDS should be well looked after by the government and should be protected in life.Dilip also discussed the role of media, and a free media as one of the strongest forces or pressure groups. The media should take advantage of their reach and spread awareness to the people by giving coverage in newspapers and other mediums. At the same time they should be sensitive and used the appropriate terminology, he said.
http://ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=1856

All disturbances in NE can be solved through dialogue and political process’

‘All disturbances in NE can be solved through dialogue and political process’
Source- Imphal Free Press
By Satya Gopal DeyKolkata, May 2, 2009:

“Disturbances of Manipur and North Eastern States can be solved through dialogue and political process,” said AB Bardhan, general secretary of the Communist Party of India. Bardhan was speaking to the Kolkata correspondent of the Imphal Free Press. In this telephonic interview
Bardhan further stated, “Issue of Manipur and other North Eastern state has got a special mention in the election manifesto published prior to 15th Parliamentary election.”The election manifesto of CPI has clearly mentioned that the north eastern states of our country are crippled by disturbances and conflict. Lack of employment opportunity and developmental work not being up to the expected level are amongst the root causes as stated in the election manifesto. As a result the youth of these states are frustrated and some of them feel alienated. The CPI manifesto advocates for addressing the root causes to solve these problem of Manipur and other north eastern states. According to the CPI manifesto, AFSPA has had an negative effect on the human rights aspect.
The manifesto also advocated for repealing of AFSPA.“Whether CPI is in the government or in the opposition, after the 15th Parliamentary election, the party will give emphasis to solve the problem of north eastern states, in particular Manipur,” Bardhan stated in his usual friendly manner.In regard to the social sector, the CPI manifesto strongly advocated for six percent of GDP for education and five percent for health care. Implementation of common school system and inclusion of 0-6 years of children under the ambit of Right to Education bill are some other points incorporated in the manifesto. According to the election manifesto, the CPI will continue to raise demands for implementation of national judicial commission to make judiciary more accountable.Bardhan is hopeful for a third front coming to power and said the Left would definitely have some deciding role in formation of government.

Newsletter of MACR - APRIL 2009

Election Campaign Photo Galary