for urgent action for kids affected by violence in Manipur

Source-Imphal Free Press
http://ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=5802

by Satya Gopal DeyKolkata,

Nov 3: Child Rights and You, CRY through a nationwide press release called for immediate action by the state as well as civil society groups to bring an end to violence resulting from insurgency and counter insurgency operations in Manipur in view of the negative impact on children. It said Children are paying the price of the decades-long violence in Manipur, either directly from bullets or indirectly by being pushed into poverty, illiteracy and malnourishment because of a combined failure of basics such as schools and health centers.Commenting on the recent bullet injury of 16 years old Irengbam Itamba, who got caught in an army-insurgent crossfire, CRY’s Director Dipankar Mazumder said, “We can clearly see that children are becoming the most direct victims of violence incontd on page 4CRY for urgent action for kids affected by violence in Manipurcontd from page 1Manipur. Because there are no schools, they are getting recruited as child soldiers and child labourers, suffering lives of malnourishment and growing up without protection and education. The State has the responsibility, along with the public, to stop this.” On being apprised about the CRY’s Press release and while talking over phone to the Kolkata correspondent of Imphal Free Press, Mr. A.B. Bardhan, General Secretary of Communist Party of India stated “in any kind of conflict situation the victims are general people and among them the worst sufferers are Children and women”.CRY is working in three of the most violence affected districts in Manipur, Chandel, Thoubal and Churachandpur, to form children’s protection groups and conduct play-workshops to inspire confidence and instil trust among the multi-ethnic groups. Ashim Ghosh Head of Manipur state from CRY stated, “Children are bought up in an environment predominantly governed by fear, secrecy, uncertainty and violence which is not conducive for them to think, decide, speak and act positively. Our workshops are a first step try and create safe spaces for children.” The problems of Manipur compounding the difficulties are the non-existent social services: roads that have been blown up, no schools or schools are being closed, non functioning anganwadis, very few hospitals and almost no equipped health centers. Most deliveries are home births without trained dais or medical attention. Births are not registered and birth certificates are not in place. Increasing number of orphan children and children of dysfunctional families, due to recurrent conflicts and effect of HIV/AIDS. Children do not have safe spaces to play or interact. Through the press release CRY highlighted some demands and calls for the National bodies such as the National Commission for the Protection of Rights of Children and the respective Ministries to step in, to resolve the situation while keeping children’s needs at the top. The extra judicial powers vested with the army needs to be thoroughly re-examined to ensure that children do not suffer from violence and trauma. Effective implementation of Juvenile Justice System as per the provisions of Juvenile Justice Care and Protection Act, 2000 and its amendments enacted in 2006.State authorities must invest in public facilities, infrastructure and rights-related services such as primary healthcare, provision of Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) for children and schooling. This approach needs to be prioritized above the military approach to problem-solving in Manipur.