Manipur Alliance for Child Rights: September 2014

Sunday, September 28, 2014

State level consultation prog held

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/43368/state-level-consultation-prog-held

IMPHAL, Sep 26: A one day consultation programme on the Integrated Child Development scheme (ICDS) and Early Childhood Care and Education was organised today by the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

Speaking during the programme, MACR convenor K Pradipkumar asserted, “Early Childhood Care and Education is a component of the Integrated Child Development scheme. ICDS is an important initiative undertaken for the well being of the children. This scheme was launched in order to enhance the growth and health of 0-6 year old children. However, in our State, the scheme has been overlooked.”

He said that though most of the components of the ICDS have been undertaken, its sponsorship is yet to be inducted.

Social Welfare Department Programme Officer Mala Lisam stated that according to the MoU signed between the State Government and the Central Government in 2009, all the required staff for the State-level State Project Support Unit, State Child Protection Society and Adolescence Resource Agency have been employed effectively from October 2013. Similarly, District Child Protection Unit, CWC and Juvenile Justice Board has been initiated in every district of the State.

There are altogether 14 children home in Manipur run by the NGOs, two each under the Centre and Open Centre, one Observation Centre, one children home and five Specialised Education Agencies under the Government and one which is run by the LDO, she added.

90 per cent of the ICDS has been funded by the Central Government and the remaining 10 percent by the State Govt. With their support, various benefits are now available for the children residing in children homes in every district under close monitoring of the Child Protection Unit, Mala Lisam stated. The role of anganwadi workers was elaborately emphasised by Kamjong CDPO Tabitha A Shimray.

Youth Life Foundation secretary L Pisak spoke on ECCE and its challenges.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Six residential schools constructed in Churachandpur

http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14..260914.sep14

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 25 2014: Concluding the second day of the Public Information Campaign (PIC) on flagship programmes of Central Government underway in B Vengnuom village of Churachandpur district under the initiative of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Imphal, the Centre under several schemes has benefited under privileged groups and people below poverty line along with all other needy families living in rural and urban areas.

According to Gojendra Singh, DPM SSA ZEO Churachandpur, six residential special schools have been opened with an estimate of 365 students enrolled till date at Churachandpur district under the Central government's flagship programme, Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan (SSA) .

In-service teachers were also imparted training to improve and adapt to the new teaching pattern, under SSA.

One additional class room each for over 100 schools have been constructed and separate washrooms for girls in 173 schools during the year 2010-11 .

Ten junior high schools in 2010-11 and seven higher secondary level schools in 2012-13 were provided with computer sets under SSA, Gojendro stated.

RTE Act bars and prohibits corporal punishment, mental harassment, screening procedure, capitation fees, private tuition by teachers and running of schools without recognition, Gojendro maintained.

Meanwhile, the National Health Mission is being implemented at Churachandpur District giving emphasis to Reduction of Maternal Mortality Rate, (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Reduction of Total Fertility Rate (TFR) under Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) and Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) .

The State has also established Manipur State Committee for Protection of Child Rights under the Act, he added.

Speaking as resource person on the second day of the three-day Public Information Campaign, District Project Officer Jouneikim of ICDS Cell Churachandpur said the Central government's flagship programme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) which aims at tackling malnutrition and health problems in children below 6 years of age and their mothers are being implemented relentlessly in the district ever since its initiation.

Another resource person, Joycy Lalrinpui PO DRDA Churachandpur added that a total of about 56,499 job cards have been issued under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for Churachandpur district during the period from january till September this year.

A total of 108 school going children in Churachandpur have acquired the benefits of Mid-Day-Meal - a scheme of the Government of India.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Training programme for Juvenile Police Units commences

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/42845/training-programme-for-juvenile-police-units-commences

Training programme for Juvenile Police Units commences

IMPHAL, Sep 11: A three day Training Programme for the Juvenile Special Police Units of Imphal East and Imphal West commenced today at State Bal Bhawan, Khuman Lampak, Imphal.

The training programme is organised by the Department of Social Welfare under the sponsorship of the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD).

The opening day of the three days training programme was attended by Joint Secretary of Social Welfare Department H Rupachandra Singh, Director of Social Welfare Department Dr Rangitabali Waikhom and Deputy Director of Social Welfare Department Th Joychandra Singh as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

While speaking as the chief guest of the function H Rupachandra said that the training programme has been organised to train the concerned authorities pertaining to the ways of treatment and reformation of the under 18 teens who have involved in criminal activities.

He further asserted that juvenile cases, in earlier days, were treated in the same way as any other adult or mature criminal cases. They were remanded in the same lockups where the adult criminals were remanded.

Treatment of juvenile cases like genuine criminal cases had led to destruction of children's career and life which could have been reformed.

Since the Juvenile Justice Act was passed by the Indian parliament, new provisions have been added to help juvenile accused through reformation and rehabilitation.

There were cases of child trafficking where children were rescued from Singapore and Bangalore who were taken there for employment in business establishments as labourers. Parents of these children were misguided by some NGOs or pseudo mission workers in the name of free education. The rescued children are being provided free education, note-books and school uniforms.

On the basis of the guidelines of the Juvenile Justice Act, if a child gets caught for his/her involvement in criminal cases, he /she would be kept under observation instead of cells or lockups so that the children can be reformed psychologically and bring back the wayward children to the mainstream, he added. While giving his presidential speech during the function, Th Joychandra Singh said that there are different provisions and special juvenile police units to tackle juvenile cases. It also helps the children who were involved in criminal activities to reform themselves, who would otherwise become real criminals.

Guest of honour of the function, Dr Rangitabali Waikhom said that the training programme has been organised specially for the Imphal East and West District Juvenile Police Units. The units have been established under the concerned district police stations on the basis of Juvenile Justice Act.

The setup has been established in each police stations to tackle selected juvenile cases.

The training programme has been organised to provide a safety net for such children by holding detailed discussions on the rules and objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act, she added.

During the technical session of the function, Programme Officer (CNCP) of State Child Protection Society, Sandhyarani Mangshatabam spoke on the Introduction of ICPS and its service delivery structures.

Also, president CORE, Debabrata Roy Laiphungbam spoke on Child Rights: UNCRC perspective and Human Defender Indigenous perspective while Nandini Thokchom spoke on Analysis of Children in Manipur.

Significantly Manipur has seen a number of crimes committed by minors in the last few years.

A number of crime committed by youngsters has been reported in the State dailies and many had expressed deep concern over the growing crime rate amongst minors.

Monday, September 8, 2014

NRHM medical programme at Thoubal, Kakching and Lilong

http://ifp.co.in/page/items/22989/nrhm-medical-programme-at-thoubal-kakching-and-lilong

THOUBAL, September 8: Under the National Rural Health Mission, District Health Society, Thoubal has started the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) programme as well as the health examination of government school students under the age of 18 was conducted for Thoubal, Kakching and Lilong Block today onward.

The selected Mobile Medical Unit vehicles which include doctors for the 3 blocks were sent off by Chief Medical Officer of Thoubal, Doctor S. Saratkumar from his Office Complex. The CMO also inspected the 1st screening of students done by doctors at Khoirom Junior High School, Yairipok.

Doctor Saratkumar, on explaining the reason for conducting the progamme, said that the main aim of the programme was to examine the reason for growth deficiency, diseases caused by vitamin deficiency, common diseases such as infection of ears, dental problems of children under 18 years of age. In addition to study of their diseases, free medical checkup was also provided.

Students who were detracted for further examination will be admitted to RIMS and JNIMS under the District Early Intervention Centre (DERC) for free medical check up.

The screening for children under 6 years of age will be conducted at their Anganwadi centres DMMU doctor and for Government school students from 6-18 years of age at their schools. The screening for new born babies will be conducted by the doctors of the hospitals where they are born for any sign of abnormalities. The doctors will also conduct a house call for those children who have not attended school yet.

The CMO further said that total number of children under 6 years for Thoubal District is 1.6 lac. He further said that preparation for screening for all the children below 6 years has been made by DHS Thoubal. He also appealed to the people of the district to help in order to live a healthy life.

In a meeting with the media, the District Nodal Officer, Doctor Y. Nokul has said that the 1st screening for Thoubal district was conducted at Khoirom junior High School, Yairipok, for Kakching block at Kakching Khunou Makha Leikai High School, for Lilong Block at Turel Ahanbi High Primary Madrasa and Haoreibi Yangbi Leikai Lower Primary Madrasa. The programme will be further conducted at other schools also said the District Nodal Officer.

The DPM (NRIM), Thoubal, Rishikesh Sharma and DPM (SSA), Thoubal Block, S. Sukumar also attended the departing of vehicles and the opening of the programme.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Child militancy a concern in Garo Hills

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/page/items/42472/child-militancy-a-concern-in-garo-hills

SHILLONG, Sept 2: The recent cases of minors and school boys getting embroiled in militancy in Garo Hills of Meghalaya have raised a lot of concerns for the people of the region.

While most say the trend is worrisome after it came to light many are of the opinion that the lure of the lucre is too hard for these youngsters to resist. And the numbers seem to be getting bigger and bigger every day.

Last week, a 14 year old boy was arrested in Guwahati as a part of the arms supply trade. He was a carrier of arms for the rag tag group of militants going by the name of Achik National Cooperative Army (ANCA). Yesterday, an 18 year old boy was arrested from his home when he came to deliver money for his boss. He belonged to Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) and was a widely known terror in the area where he belonged.

"Imagine, I saw this boy as a young child and sometimes carried him. Now he comes here brandishing a gun to our faces and demands money. Where has the morals gone", said one trader from Gokol. One resident who did not want to be named stated that it was easier for groups to use minors as the Juvenile Justice Board generally is very light in its sentences. "They always take a soft stand and the maximum punishment they get is a three year term in a Boys Home. How bad can that be", he asked? The Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) II government had recently called a meeting of MLAs to discuss the situation in Garo Hills. The team of MLAs decided to find the root cause of militancy in the region. They may not have to work too hard to find the reasons.

"Moral degradation has led to a lot of angst in the youth. There is now a huge identity crisis amongst the youth and they feel they can show their superiority through the barrel of a gun. This is something that even the Church is aware of and special sessions are now needed to be given to parents to keep their wards in check", said Pravin Bakshi, DC WGH, in a recent address to the youth of Tura. When asked as to why these young boys were not only embracing militancy and even posing for photographs with guns, SP NGH, JFK Marak said, "They are taking videos, photos and keeping them as they can then show off to their friends. It gives them an aura of awe amongst their own friends. When they then show money to their friends, ill earned but huge, some of whom face problems in food, the others too are drawn to it in the hope that they too will earn quickly".

A look at most of the arrests made point to youngsters between the ages of 16-22 being a major part of most arrests. Some of them have even earned dreaded reputation of ruthlessness.

"Easy money, social degradation, lack of a proper education system, poverty, under development, lack of parental guidance are all factors that have been leading these youths astray. Without a proper control on these factors, they will always turn to crime. Most of these boys are school dropouts and would hardly stand a chance at meaningful jobs", said Simseng Marak, a resident of Dainadubi, NGH.

"The lure of easy money has to be the biggest contributor to these youths getting into the trade of militancy. Groups come and recruit them after showing them the dream of earning lakhs in months and they just follow. Convincing someone more mature would take more time and they do not have a family to worry about", said another unnamed source in the police team.

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.