Manipur Child rights alliance visits home were children were routinely raped by administrator

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, March 11: A committee of the Manipur Alliance for Child Right, MACR, Imphal, headed by its convener Keisham Pradip along with four members and councillor of the CWC, Manipur, in collaboration with the MACR, Churachandpur Chapter, went on a fact finding mission, accompanied by a group of media men, in regards to the case of organised and routine rape of minors at the North Eastern Children Home,NECH, located at Rangkai, Lamka, by its administrator Timothy L. Changsan who is now in jail yesterday.

The team went to the Home, which is one of the most well run homes of the district, where the seven minor girls, who ran away from the Home, made a formal complaint of sexual harassment, torture and rape by the administrator, who was describe by many as serials offended and a sex maniac.

The offender is currently in police custody waiting to be charge sheeted.

It may be recalled the IFP broke the news of this sex crime.

Officials of the Home told the visiting team that they are keeping by the order of the CWC and are doing everything to protect the unfortunate seven girls. They however said they are unaware of any further development in the case.

They said they did not intervene in the matter because it was beyond their jurisdiction to do so but they were aware `the girls were terrorized by the influential administrator of the Home.`

They said they were aware the test are underway if the girls were actually physically raped or else it was technical rape as per legal definition. They said they were aware under the new POCSO Act, molestation or advance with ill intention are considered rape.

The fact finding team will also meet with some relatives of the victim girls but were surprise by the fact that the response to the crime by the CCpur public was less then lukewarm with no women and student organizations coming out in the open to protest or condemn the rape.

A top functionary of a girls Home of the district confided that the lukewarm response and sombre attitude of different organizations is on account of the money power and influence of the offender. The fact that the children were orphans also may contribute to this lack of support, they said.

The MACR, Manipur `s convener echoed this line by saying that `why would even parents keep silence after knowing that their children were abused.`

The surprising fact was also the absence of child right activists of the district. Equally surprising was the police who too restrained parents to meet their wards.

It was also learned during the tour that the school, also a Home, was known for corporal punishments.

Many believe police officers are hands in gloves with the culprit.

Of the total of 28 girls borders the Home sheltered before IFP broke the scandal, the home now has only 21 girls. The remaining girls were given counselling by the MACR team.

Teacher’s assault of student evokes much concern

IMPHAL, June 19: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has expressed grave concern over the repeated incidents of subjecting young students to physical assaults and mental harassment in the name of disciplining by their own teachers in the State.

According to a release of the MACR, the recent incident involving a teacher of the St Joseph School Sangaiprou which occurred on June 16 is quite deplorable and highly condemnable.

It testified again that school authorities and teachers are still unable to give up the outdated concept of using “Corporal Punishment” as a part of education in the schools.

It is quite horrendous to learn that a young student of class VI was mercilessly assaulted by canning with as much as 51 counts on both palms other parts of the body by a teacher that dropped the child in a severe traumatic condition.

It is a stark violation of the Section 17 (1) of Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which prohibits physical and mental harassment to child. And the St. Joseph Schools authority needs to understand that, whoever contravenes the sub -section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to such person, it said.

MACR has appealed the school authority to be more sensible in the Right to Education of the child and to stop any kind of re-victimizing approach, which may affect the academic career or emotional health of the child. It further appealed the school authority, student’s bodies and state authority to take up immediate steps so that normal academic atmosphere is restored in the school, and every child gets his or her right to education without fear of Corporal Punishment and re-victimisation, it said.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Recognised Private Schools’ Welfare Association, Imphal has also expressed grave concern over the issue which has resulted in the arrest of several members of the DESAM.

A press release of the association has said that it strongly condemned the teacher’s physical assault on a student and the arrest of the 16 members of DESAM due to a misunderstanding by the police.

Moreover, the association has also submitted a memorandum to DESAM appealing not to impose bandhs or blockades regarding the issue and not to take up any issue against the Education sector as well.

It further appealed to DESAM not to inflict any form of disturbance during the programme ‘Disturbance Free Zone in Education’ to be held on July 5 through out Manipur, it said.

The association has also appealed for the release of the arrest of the 16 members of DESAM in order to avoid any agitations from student organisations, it said.

The All India Students’ Federation (AISF) Manipur State Council has also demanded the government to take up necessary steps on the issue.

According to a release of the council, a teacher beating his student is not for personal gain but in order to draw the student to the right path.

Similarly, DESAM’s assault on the teacher is due to his misconduct, it said.

The issue was due to the teacher’s excessive use of force against the student which the student body considered to be an insult to the whole student community, it said.

The council has appealed to resolve the issue as soon as possible in order to avoid any form of agitation. It also appealed the release of DESAM members as soon as possible.

It further stated that it is necessary for the student, teacher and members of DESAM to arrange a meeting with the government and discuss the issue in a democratic manner as soon as possible otherwise any form of agitation that may occur will be sole responsibility of the government, it said.

All Manipur Students’ Guardian Organisation has also joined in the several organisation in condemning the incident.

A statement of the organisation signed by its secretary organisation S Sumati said that the incident of a teacher assaulting his student in such a reputed school like the St Joseph High School is condemnable.

She further appealed to the school authorities to check the credentials and qualifications of candidates prior to their recruitment as teachers.

On the other hand it is also wrong for a student association like DESAM to summon a teacher and thrashing him, she said.

The quick response of the State police is also laudable, she said.

Sumita further appealed to revoke the stand for stronger form of agitation from the DESAM if the apprehended 16 DESAM members are not released within 24 hours time and also showed interest to legally punish the teacher accordingly.

Sumati further mentioned that the incoming trend of serving harsh punishment to the students at private schools has triggered fear psychosis among the guardians from putting their wards to private schools and boardings.

Later she appealed not to repeat the incident in future and to release the 16 apprehended DESAM members at the earliest.

JJB registers case against St Joseph teacher for corporal punishment

IMPHAL, June 19: A day after the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West remanded the 16 members of Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) to six days police custody for assaulting a computer science teacher of St Joseph School at their office, the Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West, Takyelpat has registered a case against the teacher identified as Gurumayum Rupachandra Sharma, 35 son of G Jadumani Sharma of Uripok Achom Leikai.

Gurumayum Rupachandra Sharma is charged of meting out corporal punishment to a student of the St Joseph School.

According to reports, the case (JJB/IW Case No 6 of 2015) was registered under Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 and Indian Penal Code Section 324.

Along with registering the case, the Board has also issued an order today directing Officer-in-Charge of Lamphel Police Station to investigate the incident.

The order was collectively signed by Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West RK Memcha Devi; Member Rarry Mangsatabam and Member T Rojibala Devi.

The copy of the order was submitted to the Special Juvenile Police Unit, Lamphel Police Station under Rule 10 (b) of JJ Act (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007.

A copy of the order was also submitted each to Director General of Police (DGP) Manipur and Superintendent of Police (SP) Imphal West.

As per the order, Lamphel police should submit report of the investigation to the Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West within June 24, the reports stated.

PIL filed against closure of educational institutes

IMPHAL, July 17: A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the High Court of Manipur demanding immediate restoration of academic atmosphere of all educational institutions located within Imphal area by quashing of the official orders imposing temporary closure of all education institutes in Imphal areas.

According to the Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur, its deputy secretary Education and Academic Affairs Nameirakpam Edison Meitei has filed the PIL today with the State government through principal secretary (Education) and deputy secretary (Education S) and deputy secretary (Hr & Tech Education) as respondents.

In the PIL, the petitioner has said that on July 8, there was a protest made by a group of students of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy therey demanding introduction of the ILPS in Manipur and while controlling the said protest, a student was killed by the Manipur Police when firing a tear gas shell towards the protestors.

It said in order to control any untoward incident in and around Greater Imphal areas, indefinite curfew was imposed.

The PIL said the same day, deputy secretary (Education S) issued an order stating that the government has noted with deep concern the disturbances of the normal functioning of schools in Imphal by the resurgent agitations demanding ILPS in Manipur and in consideration of the physical safety and security of the students of all educational institutions located in Imphal area, the Governor of Manipur is pleased to order the temporary closure of all educational institutions in greater Imphal areas.

It also claimed that the same day, deputy secretary (Hr & Tech Education) also issued another order imposing temporary closure of all higher and technical educational institution in Greater Imphal areas.

It continued that on July 11, the deputy commissioners of Imphal West and East lifted the curfew partially during day time. However, even after lifting of curfew during daytime, all the educational institutions in Imphal West and Imphal East area have remained closed without any justifiable reason, which is hampering the academic atmosphere of the students of both the districts drastically, the petitioner said in his PIL.

On July 13, the respondents had convened a meeting and decided to re-open the educational institutes from July 16, however, till date no public notification has been issued for opening of educational institutions and resumption of normal classes.

The petitioner has alleged that the respondents have failed to implement the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which has been enacted by the Parliament for securing free and compulsory education to the children and that the prolonged closure of educational institutions of Imphal West and Imphal East Districts of Manipur has caused untold hardships to the bonafide students and their parents.

Man charged under POSCO bailed out: MACR-CC

LAMKA, June 17: Churachandpur is a place inhabited by diverse people, all speaking different languages with a history of living together through up and down since time immemorial, Manipur Alliance For Child Right Ccpur Chapter (MACR-CC) convener Rev Nicky Thanga told the press today.

The press conference was held at the MACR-CC cum observatory home located at Ramther, Ccpur.

The conference was called in connection to the grant of bail to Timothy Changsan who is charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act of serial raping girls, many of whom are orphans in a children home where he was the director.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt from other sources that the police have no idea of the bail and that Timothy who is out on bail is in Imphal which is against the law. As he is out on bail he cannot leave the district otherwise his bail stands cancelled.

Nicky Thanga also said that he has informed the CJM, Churachandpur, who expressed that he had not received any plea from Timothy to leave the district.

On the other hand sources also informed that Timothy is suffering from kidney and cardiology related health problems.

The MACR-CC also demanded the arrest of the accused and to clear up how a man charged un POSCO was bailed out.

Rev Nicky also tells that the center MACR and Manipur Commission for protection of children had been working on this case and the culprit will be punished according to the law of the land.

MACR and Press Conference at Imphal on Right to protection issues

Ugly truth of crimes against children laid bare

Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 17 2014: There are a total of 362 children from 38 villages in Chandel, Ukhrul, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts staying out of their respective villages.

The total number of children include 187 girls.

While 353 of them are out of their villages for studies, nine of them are out for earning.

Seventy nine of them are outside the State and 283 are within the State, according to a 2014 consolidated child tracking report of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights.

The survey covered nine villages in Bishnupur district, two villages in Ukhrul district, 16 villages of Chandel district and 11 villages of Churachandpur district.

195 of them are presently staying with their parents, 65 of them are in boarding, 37 of them in house rent, 54 children are staying with their guardians, 9 of them are in children homes while the present staying condition of 2 of the children are not mentioned.

In the nine villages covered in Bishnupur district, the survey finds that only two children, a boy and a girl are outside their village while three boys are out of their village in respect of Ukhrul district.

In the 16 villages covered in the survey in Chandel district, 220 children including 106 girls, are out of their village for study.

64 of them are staying outside the State while the rest are within the State.

In the 11 villages of Churachandpur, 131 children including 77 girls are found out of their village.

Six of them are outside the State while 125 are within the State.

During a press meet today at Manipur Press Club, the MACR also released its consolidated statistics of various crimes against children in the State during the period beginning from September 2012 to November 11, 2014 .

According to the MACR statistics, sexual assault has been committed on 42 children while there have been 86 cases of child trafficking.

69 trafficked victims have been rescued and 11 are still untraceable.

Four reported child soldiers were returned/released and there are two children suspected to be recruited as child soldiers.

The statistics also indicated that there were 5 blast injured victims, two cases of attempt to kidnap/murder, five cases of molestation, 31 cases of physical assault, one case of live infant abandonment, one case of defamation and one case of gun attack.

The figure also showed that there are four children murdered in various cases, five murders after sexual assault, one death in communal clash, six lifeless newly born infant recovered, ten suicide and one bomb blast victim.

Ironically, there is no confirmed report of rescued survivors rehabilitation.

Although the culprits involved in such crimes were arrested, most of them were released on bail.

No charge-sheet has been filed in time and charge-sheets are not filed in many of the cases.

During the period, two culprits �a police commando driver and an actor, involved in the reported rape of a student have been convicted.

There is also no confirmed report on culprits absconding.

The total number of children affected by different child rights violation reported so far is 196 excluding five children murdered after sexual assault, according to the MACR statistics.

Speaking at the press meet, convener of MACR, Keisham Pradipkumar highlighting the urgency of child tracking portal urged the authority concerned to launch the same without any further delay in order to ensure protection of children.

Deploring the meagre budgetary allocation for child welfare programme in the State, MACR consultant Dr B Deven said no child welfare programme can be implemented efficiently due to meagre budget.

He urged all concerned to increase the budget in the child welfare sector so that their rights are protected