Manipur Alliance for Child Rights: January 2013

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Missionary schools Govt to discuss test, fee structure today

IMPHAL, Jan 30: The raging issue sparked by decision of private educational institutions run by Christian missionaries to conduct screening (admission) test for fresh admission seekers in the pre-primary level as well as the institutions' fee structure would be taken up for discussion in tomorrow's meeting of the State Advisory Council, for which Education Minister M Okendro is the chairperson.

Confirming on the said meeting scheduled to be held at 3 pm tomorrow, the Education Minister affirmed that a definite decision on the said issues would be adopted by the Council, constituted on January 11, 2013 under the Right to Education Act 2009.

Okendro also informed that a new annexe of Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School would be constructed at Bengali High School premises.

It is said that Principal Secretary, Education (Schools) Dr J Suresh Babu is the ex-officio chairperson of the Council, with six top officials of State's SSA/SMA, Education and Social Welfare departments, SCERT, COHSEM and BSEM as the ex-officio members.

The Council also has eight nominated members from various educational institutions.

Constituted to advise the State Government on implementation of RTE provisions in an effective manner in the State, for which the State Project Office, SSA Manipur would be the implementing authority, the period of tenure of the Council's nominated members will be two years.

According to sources, the Department of Education (Schools) in its october 22 order had already instructed educational institutions in the state that while admitting a child (student) neither should there be collection of any capitation fee nor subject the child or parents to any form of screening procedure.

In case the said guidelines are found to be violated, the school or school authority concerned would be punishable with fine extendable to ten times the capitation fee charged, if any, with an even more harsher punishment with enhanced fine in case a child is subjected to screening procedure, maintained the sources while conveying that the guidelines were issued under a particular section of RTE to uphold right of children to free and compulsory education.

Implement RTE : SDC

IMPHAL, Jan 29 : Deman-ding indiscriminate implemen- tation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 as well as initiation of necessary action against schools which are challenging the Act, the Sustainable Development Centre (SDC), Thamnapokpi has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister and the Education Minister.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, SDC secretary Inaobi Meitei observed that the objective of providing free and compulsory education to all children as guaranteed by the RTE Act 2009 cannot be achieved in Manipur as the same Act cannot be properly implemented in the State although it came into force all over the country with effect from April 2010.

Though the RTE Act laid down that private schools should reserve 25 per cent of their student intake capacity for students belonging to weaker sections and give them free education, the same is not followed in any school.

Inaobi urged the Government to take up befitting action against all these defaulting private schools.

He also demanded appointment of AIs, DIs and Headmasters to regular posts saying that many of these important posts are held by officials-in-charge.

Guardian’s Assoc asks for RTE implementation in private schools

http://www.ifp.co.in/nws-12128-guardian-s-assoc-asks-for-rte-implementation-in-private-schools/

IMPHAL, January 29: Addressing a press meet, Advisor N Tomba, Advisor of the All Manipur Guardian Association said during a press meet at its office at Palace Compund that the current Manipur education system is awry and guardians are very dejected with the education system in the state. While appreciating the cancellation of the entrance admission tests to elementary classes in Catholic schools, he said that such schools must implement the RTE and should give free education to 25% of children belonging to other backward classes. "While affiliating to Manipur Board they agreed to follow the rules and regulations of the Board, so they have to follow its directives including implementing the RTE, failing which, they have to have to give up their affiliation to the Manipur Board," he said.

Alleging that catholic schools had handed out over 400 admission forms at the rate of Rs 100 each, he said that those who have been given admit cards for the admission tests should be admitted to the said schools.

N Tomba also called upon the Education Minister and the concerned department to take up quick action to them to bring in quality education in the state.

He further maintained that private and mission schools in their efforts to streamline student performance, schools are only looking at examination marks and neglects students who are poor in studies. He also said that students failing in their 9th standard should be allowed to go the next class i.e. class ten." If any school do not promote the failed students to the next class, action will be taken up against them," he said.

Memorandum on RTE submitted

http://www.ifp.co.in/nws-12127-memorandum-on-rte-submitted/

IMPHAL, January 29: The Sustainable Development Centre (SDC) of Thamnapokpi Bishnupur district today submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Minister and to the State Education Minister demanding for the proper implementation of the Right to Education act in Government and private schools of the state.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference after submitting the memorandum at the Manipur Press Club, Inaobi Meetei secretary SDC said that it is very unfortunate that RTE is not being implemented properly in the state. The lack of infrastructure in educational institutions, playgrounds, proper fencing of school compounds, lack of separate toilets for boys and girls, lack of teachers are proof about the manner in which the act is being implemented in the state.

Appealing to the state government and the education department to provide adequate Assistant Inspectors (AI) and Deputy Inspectors (DI) to be posted in regular posts, he maintained that lots of schools are being looked after by the in charge in some school which inconvenience the effective management of schools.

He further said that under the RTE act, students of the weaker section of the state should be given free education in the government school from class 1 to 8 while a 25% of students should be given relaxation by the private school. "Private schools of the state are not obeying the act and not giving 25% relaxation to the financially ," he said.

As for the government school he said that under the act, students have to be provided with text books and uniforms by the government. "But in our state, students are not able to get them in time," he said while appealing for their provision before the academic session starts.

Inaobi further alleged that some government schools in Bishnupur district are taking admission fee without giving any receipt which is against the RTE act and called upon the concerned authority to look after the matter and give a befitting punishment to whoever was involved.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Catholic schools urged to scrap admission test

IMPHAL, Jan 27: Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has urged schools run by missionaries to drop its proposed move to screen tests young students seeking admission.
Speaking to the media today Alliance convenor K Pradipkumar contended that screening test of children is against the concept of free, compulsory and universal educational rights of the children. Citing a Supreme Court decree in the Society of Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan versus the Union of India case in 2010, he maintained that ruling of the apex court on rights of children to free and compulsory education also covers missionary schools.
Moreover, decision by missionary school authorities to conduct screening test from tomorrow onwards is an affront to Ministry of Law and Justice's legislation on 'The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act 2012', said Pradipkumar who also opined that the screening test at the primary level is also unjustifiable as the young minds will not be able to cope with the pressure.
Further pointing out that the State Government had already declared that screening test should not be conducted at the primary level, he suggested that the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Right take up a suo-motu case against Catholic school authorities in case the screening test is held.
Human Rights Law Network director Rakesh Mei- houbam commented that conducting screening test is against the principle of Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Act 2009.
With the exception of religious studies, the Supreme Court judgement on April 12, 2012 on RTE Act implies that educational institutions should not conduct screening test of children, said the director.

Entrance tests violate child rights: MACR

IMPHAL, January 27: The controversy over the implementation of RTE in educational institutions in the state and more so in certain private and catholic schools looks set to continue further in light of arguments and counter arguments over entrance tests for admission to elementary classes. While parent and student groups have pointed out to RTE guidelines preventing schools from conducting such tests, mission school authorities have claimed that their institutions are not under the ambit of RTE as they are minority based groups and are unaided by the Government.

Even as there is total silence from the Education Department on the matter, the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has pointed out that if the schools in question go ahead with conducting their admission tests tomorrow, they would be violating the constitutional fundamental rights sub judice as there is a suo moto case being taken up by the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

Addressing a press meet at the Manipur Press Club, K Pradipkumar Convenor MACR said that the RTE passed in 2009 and implemented in 2010 covers different types of schools - Govt. school, Aided School, Unaided Private Schools. "Only Madrassas teaching the Quran and its lessons and Vedic schools teaching Hindu texts do not have to implement the RTE act," he said while adding that MACR has been raising its voice since the past two years regarding RTE implementation in the state and that it is wrong to conduct admission entrance tests for elementary classes.

Drawing attention to a notification from the Manipur Govt. Education (S) Director notice saying that there should not be any screening tests for admission into elementary class level till the elementary standard for the admission, Pradipkumar said that there are no acts or rule stating that schools set up by minority groups have the right to conduct admission tests. He was referring to the notification of the Aided Catholic Education Society that there is no change in the notification under the RTE act 2009 regarding schools run by minority groups. "Such schools have the authority to administer and produce standards of excellence but if they are against the rights of a child, they are going against fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution," he said.

If a child is rejected in the screening test how will it be possible to adjudge the capability of the child to be a student of the said schools and on which ground are the school authorities selecting students, these are controversial areas, said Pradipkumar.

He also blamed the dismal state of education in Government schools and said that though the Government sanctions huge amounts of money, such schools do not even run or function properly, leading for a rush for private and mission schools. Citing the Annual Survey of Education report 2011, he said that though there are a total of 3878 schools both Government and private, 71.1% were enrolled in 922 private schools and 27.1% enrollment in 2956 Government schools.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

MACR places charter of demands

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 22 2013: Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has put forward a 10-point charter of demands including setting up of round the clock women helpline desk, free trauma counseling and free treatment services for rape victims and all forms of violence before Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai.

In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, Convenor of MACR Keisham Pradipkumar emphaised the need for an executive decision on "relentless sexual assaults" on women and minor girls in the state.

Demanding to set up fast track courts in each district of Manipur, the memorandum called for speedy disposal of rape cases which are pending in law courts and awarding life imprisonment to rapists and death penalty to rapist cum murderer.

The memorandum also highlighted the need for timely disbursement of Social Welfare Department's funds allocated for ICPS, ICDS, maintenance grants to government supported orphanages and to ensure quarterly disbursement of sitting allowances, house rents and child related funds for Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Boards of the state to ensure efficient functioning.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Crime against women, children protested

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-22539-crime-against-women-children-protested/

IMPHAL, Jan 5: Denouncing increasing cases of crime against women and children, rights activists staged a day-long sit-in protest at Keisham- pat lairembi community hall and demanded setting a 24-hour toll free women's helpline service.

The protest demonstration was jointly organised by Wo-men in Governance (WinG) Manipur, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) and Sustainable Livelihood Forum Manipur.

Taking serious note of recent spurt in sexual assault of women and minor girls as well as incidents of murdering the rape victims, MACR convenor K Pradipkumar, referring to the Supreme Court ruling in the wake of the Delhi gang-rape case, strongly advocated implementation of the apex court's directives in the State to check rampant injustices against women and children.

He also mooted that setting up fast track courts in all the districts of Manipur, expeditious judgement on all rape cases and completing le-gal processes on pending ca- ses of crime against women and children within a 60 days period would be helpful in not only delivering justice to the victims and their families but would also effectively curb sexual assault cases.

Advocating stringent action against perpetrators of criminal acts, Pradipkumar suggested that life imprisonment of rape case convicts and death penalty for rapist murderers would be some effective legal procedures to bring down rate of crime against women.

Cautioning that any sort of leniency against perpetrators of criminal acts would only aggravate the situation as criminals would be encouraged to indulge in more heinous crimes, he also voiced the protestors' demand for setting up a toll free round the clock helpline under the supervision of women commission.

According to a WinG convenor Nonibala Narengbam a number of cases related to crime against women and children remain inconclusive in the State.

Citing absence of stringent punitive action against the accused persons as one of the factors for the State continuing to witness various crimes against women and children, she also accused both the law makers and law enforcement agencies of lacking commitment to launch effective crackdown on criminals.

Maintaining that a young housewife was raped by her neighbour at a Thoubal district locality on December 28, Nonibala alleged that rather than initiating counselling or providing psychological support the victim was harassed in police custody.

Strongly condemning the alleged victimisation of the victim, she also deplored the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thoubal remanding the victim to five days police custody.

Stating that she had never come across a rape victim being remanded to police custody, the convenor also regretted that both the Investigating Officer concerned in the Thoubal rape case as well as the CJM are women, who failed to uphold and protect dignity of a woman.

Nonibala also suggested that policies need to be worked out and put in place for rehabilitation of women victims and protect children from crimes besides active participation and contribution of NGOs in transforming the society to a safer place for women and children.

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.