PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
To strengthen child protection, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has directed the police to share with it the data on missing children from the entire State over the last three years. This includes information on the reasons for their disappearance, updates on their recovery as well as overall statistics and reports on missing children to date. This directive was issued during a State-level coordination meeting held on Thursday under the chairmanship of SCPCR chairwoman Geeta Khanna. The meeting addressed various issues related to the increasing violence against children, missing persons, child trafficking, kidnapping, social harassment and overall child protection.
During the meeting, various challenges related to the protection of children and adolescents in the State were taken up. However, particular attention was given to child trafficking, child begging, status of missing and recovered children, child labour, child sexual abuse, juvenile delinquency and social harassment.
Khanna said that the rising incidents of violence and crime against children are worrisome. She emphasised that child safety is a top priority. “It is our collective responsibility to provide every child with a safe and secure environment,” she stated.
During the meeting, various suggestions were presented by officials and stakeholders. It was agreed that an action plan would be formulated to further strengthen the safety and protection of children. The discussion also highlighted the need for prompt action in sensitive cases, effective monitoring and improved information sharing between various departments.
Khanna noted that the department of Education was directed to coordinate with the Police department on special campaigns they are running and to gather information on school dropouts and other data about children using the tracking ID system they operate. Instructions were also given to share information about these special campaigns with child welfare committees, so the organisations, working in the field, can follow up on rescued children, she said.
Additionally, she emphasised that a separate facility should be established for children struggling with drug addiction to help steer them away from addiction and provide them with new direction and guidance.
