Govt reconstitutes child rights commission after three years

The Delhi Government has reconstituted the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, which had remained without a full commission for nearly three years.

The Government appointed Om Prakash Vyas as Chairperson and four others as Members for a three-year term each through a notification issued by the Department of Women and Child Development on the directions of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The four members appointed alongside Vyas are Rahul Gautam, Kundan Kanskar, Swati Gupta, and Monika Sharma.

All appointments will take effect from the date the respective appointees assume office. The chairperson will serve until the completion of the three-year term or until attaining the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. For the Members, the corresponding age limit is 60 years.

The Chief Minister said every child deserves a safe, dignified childhood filled with opportunities and that protecting children’s rights remains the Delhi Government’s highest priority. She expressed confidence that the commission’s new leadership will work with sensitivity, transparency, and responsibility to ensure effective protection of children’s rights and said the government remains committed to safeguarding the interests of every child and supporting their holistic development.

The reconstitution comes at a time when child protection has received heightened attention from the Delhi government. Last month, July was designated Child Protection Month by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, with the Education Department, Delhi Police, and the Department of Women and Child Development rolling out parallel initiatives across the city.

These include implementing student safety checklists in all 5,633 schools across Delhi, constituting Child Protection Committees in schools, running POCSO awareness campaigns at Anganwadi centres and child care institutions, and training teachers and master trainers on child safety protocols.