Manipur Alliance for Child Rights: July 2010

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Meeting on child rights held

Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 27: With an objective to implement free and compulsory education for children under the adopted “Children’s Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009” a two-day consultation meeting with members of Village Education Committees (VECs) representing different districts along with Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) was held at Hotel Imphal since yesterday.

The unique consultation meeting which concluded today made an active consideration on the need of the hour for timely implementation of recently enacted “Children’s Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009” in the state of Manipur, with demands for the acceleration of the implementation process of this Act.

The consultative meeting made an active observation to demand the setting up of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights which is indispensable to monitor and recommend proper implementation of the act. MACR is much concerned over the status of work of drafting of the Manipur state rules, as there is no such information for holding of consultation on the draft rules being prepared, even after completion of three months since enactment of this Act in April, 2010.

It was also further observed in the meeting that the state must speed up the process for making appropriate state rules, in which Manipur specific marginalized or disadvantaged children, such as children living with HIV/AIDS, conflict orphans, displaced children are covered in consultation with the civil society bodies.

It is high time now that the state notifies and re-orient its respective line officers. Local authorities like panchayat and municipal councils should take active role on effective implementation of the RTE. MACR urged the state government to ensure strong participation of civil societies in the preparatory and implementation stage of RTE in the state and MACR will take up all necessary steps at state and district level by organizing mass advocacy campaign to ensure that this Act is implemented for the benefit of the children of Manipur.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Children’s cultural meet held

IMPHAL, Jul 25: Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) organised a cultural meet at the auditorium of Manipur Dramatic Union today.
Children from different districts both from hill and valley presented dance in the programme.
A report on the overview of children rights to protection in Manipur prepared by Coalition on Children’s Right to Protection (CCRP) was also released by Education Minister L Jayantakumar, who was the chief guest of the function.
Manipur State Women’s Commission Chairperson Dr L Ibetombi was the president of the function.
Speaking at the occasion, L Jayantakumar said that the main task of the society is to focus on our children by giving them affection and good education.
The Minister added that taking keen interest in this regard, Central Government has introduced many schemes for women and children by keeping a separate ministry.
Dr L Ibetombi while speaking in the function said that many infants die during delivery in the State. Many children also lose their lives due to malnutrition, she added.
She emphasised on the need to provide proper physical, social and medical attention while bringing up children.
Speaking on children’s education, Dr L Ibetombi said, there is need to maintain better coordination between teachers and parents. She also emphasised on maintaining peace in the society to give good education to the children.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

MACR Demands probe into the kidnapping of two children

MACR condemned the incident of kidnapping of two children master Lairellakpam Nganba (12), son of L Ibochouba of Chingarel and Ngangbam Kuber (10), son of Ng Rajen of the same locality by some unknown persons on 19 July about 12.30 pm. Though the two children escaped from a deserted house located somewhere in Dewlahland on 21 July, at around 7 am, when they regained consciousness after nearly 45 hours of sedation by a gang coming in a Maruti Van, who overpowered them and anesthetized using some powerful chemical, the perpetrators are yet to be traced out. MACR demands to conduct a proper investigation into the crime against the children to unearth other details such as who would be the kidnappers, what were the possible motives behind, what kind of chemicals could they have used to tranquilize the children for such an long hours?

In Manipur, the incidents of kidnapping, child soldier recruitment and other form of child trafficking are still increasing, since most of the perpetrators and traffickers got off scot-free because of lack of proper crime investigation and strong legal proceedings. We urge to setup a pro-active inter-sectoral collaboration among the different stake holders including police, social welfare department, medical department, CWCs, JJBs, NGOs and civil society organizations to ensure immediate medical care, psychological treatment, social security to such victim children.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

DESAM survey finds facilities lacking at schools

http://www.ifp.co.in/shownews.php?newsid=11053

IMPHAL, July 17: As a part of its drive to bring a better education system in the state, the Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur conducted a survey at various government schools located in Imphal West district today.

Giving details of the survey, a DESAM Imphal West unit release said altogether 11 schools located in Imphal West were covered in its latest inspection.

It said the survey was conducted at Rastrapati primary school, Keishampat, Trival primary school, Lamdeng, Public girls high school, Lamdeng Khunou, Ram Lal Paul high school, Keishamthong, Ideal girls primary school, Mayang Langjing, Mayang Langjing LP School, Mayang Langjing high school, Phayeng high school, Phayeng primary school and Heibongpokpi Leirenkabi high school.

During the survey, most of the schools were found lacking basic infrastructures like benches and desks apart from lacking other facilities.

In some of the schools, teachers were found absent besides failing to maintain attendance register, the DESAM said adding the number of students attending classes in some of the schools was negligible.

Regarding present condition of Ram Lal Paul high school, once regarded as a premier school of the state, the DESAM said the high school is awfully in bad condition today. It said the high school has many shortages due to lack of inspection by concerned authorities.

Of the total strength of 54 teaching staffs, 23 of them were found to be detailed for Census operation while only 11 teachers were found present and without maintaining attendence register. The school is also found to be lacking toilet facility apart from lacking benches and desks.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

CCRP Workshop on Child participation

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, June 30: With the objective of imparting leadership qualities along with competitive spirit to the downtrodden children of the state, the Coalition on Children’s Rights to Protection (CCRP), Manipur, conducted two-day children’s participation workshop cum cultural programme from June 28 to June 29 at MMKS Children Home.

During the two-day workshop, the children exhibited mind-blowing performance in various games and sports, social service and entertainment programme that included mimicry, songs, poem recitation etc.

A discussion session moderated by Lena Phanjoubam was also held during the two-day workshop. Various child rights activists participated in the discussion session which deliberated on several issues of the children staying at the children home.

The moderator of the discussion session, Lena observed that besides studies children need certain sort of recreation and relaxation so as to enable them to bring out their hidden talents. The children should not be made to confine only within the four walls of the classroom. They should be given adequate time for other extra-curricular activities so as to harness the pent up energy and ability they have inwardly, she said.

THE CHILD RIGHTS MANIFESTO

Today, unseen, ignored, almost half of all Indian children under
the age of five are underweight, millions die each year of easily preventable
diseases and 8 million children do not go to school. In the 21st century, in
one of the world's fastest growing economies, this is unacceptable.

CRY - Child Rights and You works to ensure lasting change in the
lives of underprivileged children and you can help - by making your vote
count. Get our leaders to do more for children. Create a vote bank big enough
for them to hear that we, the people. demand child rights - the rights to
education, safety, healthcare, and participation.

Pledge your support and wear the yellow ChildMark proudly on
your finger.

THE CHILD RIGHTS
MANIFESTO
16th General
Elections 2014
CRY - Child Rights and You calls on all political parties to
become campaigner of rights of all children in India.

India, with about 430 million children, has the world’s largest
child population with every sixth child in the world today referring to India
as ‘home’. Although children constitute over a third of India’s population,
they are accorded a low priority in national policy and governance decisions.
CRY urges political parties and governments in power to take heed and ‘Put children first’ and include the following commitment
suggestions that can impact over a third of this nation’s population, when
designing their own election agenda.
• Harmonize the age
definition for all child-related legislations in line with National Policy for
Children 2013 where child is any person below the age of eighteen years.
• Ensure Right to
Education is fully exercised as fundamental right and Amend and expand the
scope of Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 such that: All Children between 6-14 years
get enrolled, regularly attend Elementary
school and avail quality education. Also, all children from 0-6 years and 14-18 years should come under the purview of the Act.
• Strengthen
implementation of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) such that all six services viz
Supplementary nutrition, Health Check-ups, Immunization, Nutrition & Health
Education, Pre-school non-formal education and referral services are
effectively functioning. Also ensure that there is an adequate investment
carried out in decentralized planning, universal coverage and trained
personnel.
• Reduce child mortality
and morbidity and ensure that no child remains malnourished through carrying out sustained efforts
towards complete immunization, regular health check-ups and growth monitoring,
proper nutritional support and health counselling of all children under 18
years.

• Declare access to
quality primary healthcare a Fundamental Right in the Constitution of India and strengthen Primary Health Care
systems and child health amongst the urban poor.
• Ensure Food security at
household level for all marginalized groups of people with proper implementation of the National
Food Security Act, 2013 and consider amendments (i) increasing the
protein/fat intake for pregnant mothers and children to 20-25 gms (according to
Supreme court order) instead of current provision of 18-20 gms (ii) including services such as immunization, health check-ups etc
which have been part of the ICDS as part of the Act (iii) making provision of supplementary
nutrition for children in the14-18 age group.
• Amend the Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2012: to abolish all forms of child labour by removing the distinction
between hazardous and non-hazardous categories of work for all children up to
18 years of age.
• Invest adequately in
ensuring protection for children by: (i) implementing policies and programme that protect children from
abuse, violence and exploitation; (ii) investing in
appropriate referral services for the recovery, rehabilitation and
reintegration of victims of abuse, violence and exploitation; investing in
creating a cadre of trained professional (iii) creating robust
monitoring of implementation of child protection mechanisms, schemes and
policies (iv) creating a proper database for child
trafficking, street children, missing children and ensuring a fully functional
newly developed child tracking system – ‘Track child’.
• Ensure Gender Parity,
Social Equity, and the rights of Children with disabilities with providing equal opportunities for all
social groups – SC, ST, Minority group and urban deprived groups. Become more responsive
to needs of girl children and children with disabilities.
• Allocate sufficient
Budget for Children (BfC) allocations by
increasing the allocation from 4.64% to at least 10% of total Union Budget. Also introduce a child budget component in the budget of all
allied Ministries and ensure effective National, State and District-level
management and utilization of outlays/ budgets.

The best interest of the child needs to be put at the centre of
all policy, legislation and practice affecting their young lives. India’s one
third population deserves demonstration of commitment as a nation. It calls for
action to express zero tolerance towards violation of children’s rights so that
every child attains happy, healthy and creative childhood.

MACR- Manipur Alliance for Child Rights- Charter of demand in Assembly elcetion, 2012

1. A strong political commitment to find out a political solution in place of repressive militarisation policy, to end the
long dawn armed conflict, that has been bringing out xtraordinary denial of the right to survival, development, and
protection of all the children in Manipur, including the children living with HIV/AIDS, by repealing the AFSPA which gives impunity extra judicial powers to the army.

2. A holistic state policy for ensuring safe and secured environment, where each and every individual could enjoy the equal opportunity for economic, social and cultural development.

3. A mass employment policy for youths, providing employment opportunity within the state, not merely in state security forces but in welfare and other allied sectors.

4. Setting up of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights with the full strength of the members, free from any political interference, where independence of the commission members while providing justice to the aggrieved children is upheld.

5. A comprehensive State Children’s Policy, under which children are provided with all the entitled rights of survival,
development, protection and participation without any discrimination.

6. A commitment to announce the education institutions as completely free zone, free from any political interference, corruption, military occupation, economic hindrance, while
ensuring meaningful free and compulsory education to children.

7. A commitment for providing adequate budget for schools’ infrastructural development, with special provisions for accessing to barrier free for children with disability, creating an enabling environment, so- that teachers could attend the schools without any hindrance, adequate support and monitoring mechanism for complete implementation of Mid Day Meal scheme in Government Schools and Aided Private Schools in the state.

8. A commitment for adequate budget support for nfrastructural improvement of health institutions at Panchayat, Block and District level, accessible provisions
for institutional delivery in the PHCs with proper pre and ante natal care facilities.

9. A commitment to make all ICDS centres, accessible and functional, ensuring additional nutritional support to the Children Living with HIV/AIDS by linking with the existing
ICDS centres.

10. Commitment for timely disbursement of fund to the
Government sponsored children homes, proper implementation of Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). Opening of Girls Shelter homes and Girls Children Homes
in the state on priority basis.

11. To set up Integrated Trauma Counselling cum Life skill Centres in all districts, for victims of child trafficking, rape,
conflict inflicted children, and other Child in Need of Care and
Protection and Juvenile in Conflict with
Law.

12. A commitment to ensure regular supply of safe
drinking water and uninterrupted power supply to every village and household, by acknowledging that without regular water and electricity supply, realisation of basic rights including right to life, right to education, right to health and development are not possible.

CRY- CHILD RIGHTS and YOU appeals to the people of Manipur on the event of Assembly election

1. Political and social stability in the state where people can be engaged in peaceful social and cultural life. Each and every individual, especially children could feel secure and protected. There must be ample opportunity for children and the youth to enjoy a happy and healthy life.
2. Children should be completely immunised at the community level. Government health services must reach every community so that each and every child can access basic Government health services.
3. Children below 6 years must be enrolled in ICDS centres and must get a midday meal along with additional food nutrient support. ICDS centres must be opened everyday for the children.
4. HIV positive children must get additional nutritional support, regular health check ups and ART treatment. Families of HIV positive children must get additional economic support from the state.
5. All children must get free and compulsory education at the community level. Government schools must be easily accessible and should have properly trained and qualified teachers.
6. Children must not be trafficked; it is the responsibility of the state to be alert on the issue of child trafficking, and ensure the protection of children at the community level.
7. All efforts must be made to rescue and rehabilitate trafficked children into society and through Government sponsored homes/institutions.
8. Children who are engaged as child labourers or as domestic workers must be rescued by the state and rehabilitated through proper legal actions by the state authority.

CRY- Child Rights & You Charter of demand on the occassion of 10th ManipurAssemble election

1. All political parties should commit to ensuring a safe and secured social environment, where each and every individual, especially children can enjoy a peaceful and healthy life; all individuals must get equal opportunity for economic, social and cultural development.
2. All political parties should commit to setting up a State Commission for Child Rights to protect the rights of children in the state. The Commission should be kept free from any political interference.
3. All political parties should commit to drawing up a clear-cut policy for children at the state level, where children will be provided with the rights to survival, development, protection and participation.
4. All political parties should commit to announce all educational institutions as zones free from political unrest, and ensure free and compulsory education to all the children.
5. All political parties should commit to allocate adequate budgetary provisions for building basic infrastructure for schools, with special provisions for disabled children.
6. All political parties should commit to make provisions for adequate budget support to develop infrastructure of health institutions at Panchayat, Block and District level. They must ensure that all children in the state can avail of free Government health services.
7. Long-term conflict has resulted in the unprecedented denial of the right to health, survival and development for all children in Manipur, including HIV positive children. The government should push for a permanent end to the armed conflict as it is one of the major reasons behind the poor access to healthcare.