In the absence of rehabilitation measures Comback routes almost sealed for child soldiers

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/40730/in-the-absence-of-rehabilitation-measures-comback-routes-almost-sealed-for-child-soldiers

IMPHAL, Jul 11: Of the many unlawful activities com-mitted by juveniles in Chura- chandpur district, donning the role of child soldier is the most common. The issue has been compounded by the absence of any State funded rehabilitation and social re-integration programmes.

Members of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) and some media persons from Imphal visited Churachandpur district headquarters today to take stock of Government initiatives on rehabilitation of child soldiers, if there is any.

The team visited the district’s observation home and met the Superintendent and Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

From 2007 till date, there were/are 287 children in the observation home funded by the Health Integrated Ministry of the Ministry of Women and Child.

Of the 287 children, 90 per cent were kept in the observation home after their stints as child soldiers, said Superintendent Nicky Thanga.

The children were kept in the observation home awaiting confirmation whether they are guilty or not after they are produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.

If any of them is found guilty, they should be transferred to a special home.

Most of the child soldiers who have come back joined different UG groups driven by their fascination for guns and a wrong notion that wielding a gun is more respectable in the society. As such, they were sent back from the home after giving proper counselling.

Many of these children joined UG groups because of family problems.

As of now, no Government measures could be seen in Churachandpur for rehabilitation and social re-integration of former child soldiers. Because of these lapses, there is a big drawback in all the efforts to bring back the former child soldiers to mainstream., said Nicky Thanga.

CWC Chairperson Daniel Gangte noted that former child soldiers are one of the many groups of children who need protection and guidance.

Altogether 17 UG groups affiliated to KNO operate in Churachandpur while two groups affiliated to UPF are also present in the district.

When the CWC reached out to these SoO signatory UG groups, many children were found serving as child soldiers, Nicky Thanga said. However, neither UPF nor KNO has officially accepted presence of child soldiers in their midst. The number of child soldiers arrested by security forces and referred to the CWC is only three so far.

Most of the child soldiers after counselling wish to return to the mainstream. But the Government has no arrangements for their rehabili- tation. If the children’s conditions who have left UG groups could not be improv-ed, there is strong possibility of the children taking up arms again. But the CWC has no capacity to rehabilitate such former child soldiers thereby landing tyhe the CWC in a fix.

However, children homes of Churachandpur district have been benefited from the Integrated Child Protection Scheme but the provision of sponsorship guaranteed by the scheme is yet to be implemented.

MACR convenor Pradip said that the issue of child soldier is not unique to Churachandpur district but common to all the districts of Manipur. Again, whatever provisions the Government made for cadres of SoO signatory UG groups are not inclusive of the child soldiers, he added.

POCSO Act vis-a-vis Police and Doctors

http://ifp.co.in/page/items/22120/pocso-act-vis-a-vis-police-and-doctors

By Keisam Pradipkumar

The POCSO Act, 2012 (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012), which came into effect from 14th November, 2012, may stand, perhaps the most significant gift ever given to the children of the country during UPA regime. Sadly enough, the Act remained still in oblivion and unreached to many child victims of sexual offences. Till now some key stake holders, particularly police, doctors, CWCs are unable to execute their specific roles and responsibilities proactively as envisaged in the Act, in so doing care and protection assured in the Act, as undeniable rights of the child victims are ultimately deprived.

Unmistakable duties of police during the first 24 hours

Most specifically, the paramount role and duties of police need to be appreciated and streamlined, since police shall record and register the sexual offences (Penetrative or non Penetrative ) committed against the children under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, any negligence or lapses on the part of police will crop up with serious implications. If the police fail to register a case under the Act timely, then the case will remain almost unreported and it will slowly but surely evaporate from public domain resulting in leaving the culprit scot-free while the survivor child is not provided with any kind of care and protection measures or justice. Could the police deny from record or register a complaint about sexual assault cases under the Act? is a relevant question .

Under the POCSO Act, the police as a bounded duty, need to record the complaint and assign an entry number to the information, read it over to the complainant/informant, enter the complaint in a book kept by the Police Unit {Section 19((2)}. So it is evident that Police cannot refuse to record or register of any such complaint. Because failure to record information relating to the commission of an offence or an apprehension that an offence is likely to be committed is punishable under the Act, with imprisonment which may extend upto 6 months or with fine or with both (Section 21).

As emergency duties of police which need to discharge within 24 hours of the report being registered i.e. registering an FIR, local police or Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) shall, without unnecessary delay but within a period of 24 hours, report all the sexual assault cases to the concerned Child Welfare Committee and Special Court or where no Special Court has not been designated, to the Court of Sessions, including the need of the child for care and protection ad steps taken in this regards (Section 6).

It is the duty of the SJPU and Police to ensure that a victim child of sexual assault is taken to the nearest hospital (Government or Private which is the closer) or medical facility within 24 hours of the report being registered {Section 19 (5)}. The police should be aware the fact that the time frame for medical examination of a child is within 24 hours from the case is reported to the police. Therefore, the police should, either on one or another pretext, never try to delay in taking the child for a medical examination within 24 hours at any cost.

Should the child victim be produced before Child Welfare Committee (CWC) within 24 hours of report being registered is another matter which is frequently asked that confused both CWC and police. As per the Section 6 of the Act, it is clear that police has a mandatory duty to report all the sexual assault cases to CWC within 24 hours, but production of the child is not stated. However, under Section 5 of the Act, if the SJPU/Police is convinced that the child is without any parental support or living with the abuser or potential abuser, or is in an institution, or homeless, the child victim must be produced within 24 hour before CWC. The SJPU/Police has to record the reason in writing as to why the child needs to be shifted and make immediate arrangement for care and protection. This may include admitting the child to hospital or shelter home within 24 hours of the report.

Duties of Hospitals or Doctors during the first 24 hours

A major problem being faced by victim party in the government hospitals in Manipur in regards to medical care and medical examination of the child sexual assault victims is that doctors usually refuse to give medical care and to conduct medical examination saying FIR is required prior to medical care and medical examination. Hospitals and Doctors should know, it is now a crystal clear that Rule 5 (3) of the POCSO Rules categorically bars doctors or hospitals from demanding legal documents ( FIR etc.) before rendering medical care, and Section 27 of POCSO Act stated that medical examinations must be carried out even if an FIR or Complaint has not been registered. In short, under the Act, any doctor or hospital now cannot insist on legal formalities to the victim’s party such as FIR or formal complaint to police about the sexual offence prior to the medical examination or emergency medical care of child victim.

Who can carry out the medical examination of child victim of sexual offence? And whether only the government hospitals can render emergency care - are imperative to understand. The medical examination is to be conducted by a Registered Medical practitioner (RMP) of a government hospital. In case a registered medical practitioner is not available at a government hospital only then doctors of a private hospital can also carry out the medical examination. Unavailability of government doctors for conducting medical examination is frequently reported in the state, generally when the child victim is brought late at night. Here the option for private hospitals can also be considered. It is to be noted here that as per Section 357 C of Code of Criminal Procedure, the private hospitals have a duty to provide first aid or medical treatment to female rape victims or acid attacks in free of cost. Since delay in medical examination may lose various evidences, an early medical examination within 24 hours must be ensured and for that matter, medical examination facility in government hospitals must be available round the clock on 24x7 service model. As Manipur is engulfed with HIV/AIDS epidemic and chances of infecting HIV virus to the child victim from the offender is fairly high, emergency medical care including administering of Post Exposure Prophylaxis is quite essential.

Distribution of school Midday meal items concludes

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/40409/distribution-of-school-midday-meal-items-concludes

Senapati, Jul 3: The marathon distribution and transporting of the Mid-day meal rice to all the Government Schools in the district by the ADC and ZEO Education department under the Mid-day Meal Division, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, concluded today.

Unlike previous years, the rice was distributed under the supervision of the ADC CEO Rang Peter, MCS, ZEO S L Rangsong, SDO office, Purul officials, DIs and AIs. Tadubi SDO Ganguiliu, MCS also distributed rice to the schools at SDO office, Tadubi.

Continuing the new technique of reaching the respective schools through the transport contractors under the close monitoring of officials, the conclusion of the 1st phase distribution benefited 217 government schools. 998 quintals of rice were distributed and an estimated 8,258 kms were covered with an aim to avail the opportunity in Government schools located in the remote areas.

With a total number of 217 Government schools in the district, rice quantity of 509 quintals were distributed to 98 schools at Maram IB, 299.5 quintals of rice to 70 schools at Tadubi SDO Godown and 189.5 quintals of rice to 49 Schools in and around the District Headquarters. Confirming the delivery of rice through headmasters and SMDC, a Transport agency was entrusted for the transportation of rice to respective schools to check any irregularity

5th Cultural Meet- Manipur

news Publication

http://manipurupdate.com/manipur-childrens-cultural-meet-in-imphal/

http://thepeopleschronicle.in/

http://ifp.co.in/page/items/21939/zero-tolerance-of-all-violence-against-children-a-must-macr

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/40271/macr-meet

http://www.hueiyenlanpao.com/headlines/item/20602-5th-children-s-cultural-meet-2014

http://www.sentinelassam.com/northeast/story.php?sec=2&subsec=9&id=196296&dtP=2014-06-29&ppr=1

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/school-hostels-must-be-registered-under-jj-act/article6159097.ece

The Hindu

“School hostels must be registered under JJ Act”

The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) with the support from CRY (Child Rights & You) organised the 5th Annual Children’s Meet, 2014, in the Tribal Research Institute Auditorium, Chingmeirong, Imphal West, Manipur on Saturday on the theme ‘Zero Tolerance on all forms of violence against children.’

K. Pradipkumar, MACR convener, delivering the keynote address, stated that all school hostels, including SSA/government-run residential schools, should be registered under Juvenile Justice Act or under a relevant legislation in order to regulate the function of the institutions and to protect the rights of the inmates.

Justifying the theme of the year, he pointed out that due to the indifferent attitude of society, violence had been escalating, depriving children’s undeniable rights.

Dr.T. Meinya MP in his speech emphasised the importance of ICDS anganwadi centres in imparting ECCE and ensuring holistic child rights.

He reiterated that the provisions of the Right to Education Act could be properly implemented with the larger involvement of civil societies and NGOs.

Anganwadi centres

Ashim Ghosh of CRY expressed concern over the slow progress on activation of Anganwadi Centres and appealed for availability for essential devices like growth monitoring charts and weighing machines at the centres. He appealed to policy-makers, service providers and the civil society organisation to act together for effective implementation of child-related Acts, scheme and to ensure protective environment for children in the State. Around 500 children from Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal east & west districts, participated and presented colourful cultural items sending the

message of integrity, solidarity and cooperation for ensuring protective environment for children. Children performed Kuki cultural dance, Khoibu cultural dance, Leima jagoi dance and rendered Kom folk songs and Gangte cultural songs.

The motto of the programme was to provide cultural space to showcase the innate talent of children through day-long creative activities.

It also helped bringing communal harmony among the different communities of the State.

Weighing machines were distributed to the children’s collective as gifts to ensure the community-level heath monitoring of children.

Zero Tolerance on all forms of violence against children the theme of the meet

The Sentinel-Assam

Annual Children’s Meet organized

IMPHAL, June 28: Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) with the support from CRY– Child Rights & You organised the 5th Annual Children’s Meet, 2014 at Tribal Research Institute Auditorium, Chingmeirong, Imphal West, Manipur on the theme – “Zero Tolerance on All forms of Violence against children, come and act together”. Dr Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), former Minister, Higher & Technical Education, Manipur was the Chief Guest of the function, H Rupachandra Singh, Joint Secretary (Social Welfare), Government of Manipur was the Guest of Honour and the function was presided by Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Associate General Manager (AGM), CRY– Child Rights & You. K Pradipkumar, the convener of MACR while giving the key note address stated that all the school boarding and hostels, including SSA/government run residential schools should be registered under JJ Act or a relevant legislation in order to regulate the function of the  institutions and to protect the rights of the inmate children. Justifying the theme of the year, he pointed out that due to existing indifferent and tolerable attitude of the society there has been an escalating violent trend depriving the children’s undeniable rights.         Dr T Meinya in his speech emphasised the importance of ICDS Anganwadi centres in imparting ECCE and ensuring holistic child rights. He also reiterated that provisions of Right to Education Act could be properly implemented with larger involvement of civil societies and NGOs. Ashim Ghosh in his presidential speech shows concern over the slow progress on activation of Anganwadi Centres and appealed for availability for essential devices like growth monitoring charts and weighing machines in the centre. He appealed to the policy makers, service providers and civil society organisation to come and act together for effective implementation of child related Acts, scheme and to ensure protective environment for children in State. The programme was participated by around 500 children from Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East & West districts and presented colourful cultural items sending the message of integrity, solidarity and cooperation for ensuring protective environment for children. Children performed Kuki cultural dance, kom folk songs, Khoibu cultural dance, Leima jagoi dance, Gangte cultural songs etc. The motto of the programme was to provide a cultural space to showcase the innate talents of children through day long creative activities. It also helped bringing communal harmony among the different communities of the State. On the occasion of the events– 10 nos of weighing machines were also distributed to the children’s collective as gifts to ensure the community level heath monitoring of children to detect malnourished cases which has been almost absent in most ICDS centres in the State of Manipur. This was stated in a press release.

Manipur Update

Manipur children’s cultural meet in Imphal

June 28, 2014 | Filed under: Manipur,News | Posted by:

MU NEWS/IMPHAL, June 28 :

The state capital today witnessed the 5th edition of Manipur children’s cultural meet 2014 on Saturday. To attend the children’s meet, as many as 400 children from all the nine districts of the state turned at the tribal research institute auditorium at Chingmeirong here. The meet which was held under the theme ‘zero tolerance on all forms of violence against children, come and act together’ was organised by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights(MACR) Imphal with the support of CRY-Child Rights and You Kolkata.

Manipur’s Lok Sabha MP Dr Thokchom Meinya Singh, Associate general manager CRY Ashim Ghosh and official from state social welfare department attended the formal inaugural function of the day long cultural meet this morning which is scheduled to witness a series of cultural and dance performances by the children from all the districts.

Speaking about the objective of organising the meet, convenor of MACR Keisham Pradipkumar said that the cultural meet was organised to exchange cultural activities among the different communities settling in the state and also to explore the hidden talents of the children. In a conflict ridden state like Manipur, we need to organise such event once in a while so that the children can been provide their opportunity to play and enjoy with the counterparts from the across the state.

Imphal Free Press

Zero tolerance of all violence against children a must: MACR

IMPHAL, June 28 : The 5th Children’s Cultural Meet 2014 on the theme ‘Zero Tolerance on all forms of Violence against Children, come and act together’ was held at the Tribal Research Institute Auditorium, Chingmeirong, Imphal West, organised by Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR).

Dr. Thokchom Meinya, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, attended as the chief guest, Mairembam Prithviraj Singh, Parliamentary Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports and Tourism as the president, Ashim Ghosh, associate general manager, development support, CRY- child rights and YOU, Kolkata as the guest of honour.

Keisham Pradeep, Convenor, MACR said that envisaging the society, being represented by key stake holders and individual citizenries, still largely remains complacent and fairly tolerable with the level of ever growing up violent incidents, making countless number of children the innocent victims. He asserted that the same trend will go up unabated, unless the people wipe away the deep rooted attitude of indifferent and escapism from the people’s heart and head as well. He further continued that realising the crucial need at the moment is nothing but revitalise and re-sharpen up the social institutions to fight for child rights.

He said that the main objectives of the children’s meet 2014, is to encourage participation by the children from different communities of the state. The daylong joyful mega cultural meet is not only to provide the young children a space to showcase their hidden talents with full of creativity, but also to bring a significant bonding that help to realise an eternal communal harmony and peaceful co-existence of different indigenous peoples cutting across all sections.

Dr Meinya said that torturing of children and child labour should not be tolerated and should be eradicated because children are the foundation of a good nation. He further said that people hardly give importance to the Anganwadi, which is a wrong idea. He further said that Anganwadi should be equally given importance and appealed the teachers, staffs and members to keep continuing the good work as a sacrifice for the children. He also said that the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) project is important for the pregnancy mother and the child so the concern Departments should fulfil the objectives by providing the facilities on time.

The sangai Express

By : Our Staff Reporter

MACR meet

IMPHAL, Jun 29: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) with support from CRY- Child Rights & You on Saturday organised the 5th Annual children’s Meet, 2014 at Tribal Research Institute Auditorium, Chingmeirong, Imphal West, on the theme “Zero Tolerance on All Forms of Violence Against Children: Come and Act Together”, conveyed a press release.

MP Dr T Meinya Singh, was the chief guest of the function while H Rupachandra Singh, Joint Secretary (Social Welfare), was the guest of honour.

The function was presided by Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Associate General Manager (AGM), CRY- Child Rights & You, it said.

MACR convener K Pradipkumar while giving the key note address stated that all the school boardings and hostels, including SSA and Government run residential schools should be registered under Juvenile Justice Act or other relevant legislation so as to regulate the functioning of the institutions and also to protect the rights of the inmate children.

Dr T Meinya in his speech emphasised the importance of ICDS Anganwadi centres in imparting ECCE and ensuring holistic child rights. He also reiterated that provisions of Right to Education Act could be properly implemented with larger involvement of civil societies and NGOs.

Ashim Ghosh in his presidential speech expressed concern over the slow progress on activation of Anganwadi centres and appealed for availability for essential devices like growth monitoring charts and weighing machines in the centres. He further urged the policy makers, service providers and civil society organisations to come and act together for effective implementation of child related Acts and schemes so as to ensure protective environment for children in the State.

The program was participated by around 500 children from Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel, Churachandpur, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East & West districts and the children presented various colourful cultural items. Children performed Kuki cultural dance, Kom folk songs, Khoibu cultural dance, Leima jagoi dance, Gangte cultural songs etc.

hueiyenlanpao

5th Children's Cultural Meet 2014

  

HNS/IMPHAL, June 28: Under the aegis of Child Rights & You (CRY) Kolkata, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR), New Checkon organized the 5th Children's Cultural Meet 2014 at the auditorium of Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong here today.

The meet held under the theme 'Zero Tolerance on All Forms of Violence against Children: Come & Act Together' was attended by MP Dr Th Meinya; Ashim Ghosh, associate general manager of CRY and H Rupachandra Singh, Joint Secretary of Social Welfare Department as Chief Guest, President and Guest of Honor respectively.

Starting of with an opening song by inmates of MMKS Children's Home, Dewlahland, children from different parts of the State presented various cultural items on the occasion.

Children's Cultural Meet- Manipur