Over a 100 school students handed over a charter of demands that included substantial methodology to curb the menace of human trafficking, implementation of laws more stringently for curtailing child marriage, sexual abuse, child labour including other perils that confine child rights to Governor Draupadi Murmu on the occasion of International Children’s Day here on Monday.
Child Champions, who had overcome several obstacles, on the occasion that marks the celebration of protection of children across the world, said that enough is needed to be done to bridge the existing gap in order to protect the most vulnerable part of the society.
Applauding the initiatives of the civil society organizations, the Governor said, “Due to the efforts of NGOs working for the rights of children though some level of awareness has been created but alone government and NGOs cannot bring change. Even today, some instances of violation of child rights can be witnessed in our society. Identification of such families who are ready to send their children to work at a tender age must be ensured by Government, NGOs on priority basis.”
The Governor insisted the common masses to join hands with the NGOs, State Government to transform the mindset of the people towards one of the most pivotal issues. While on the other hand, Minister, Department of Urban Development and Planning, CP Singh said, “Work undertaken by several NGOs must be reviewed annually. Social audits of NGOs must be made mandatory as it will aid in collecting prominent fact, figures about the task undertaken by the agencies and how far it has helped in fulfilling the goal.”
Secretary, Vikash Bharti, Ashok Bhagat asked the stakeholders to identify the potential of kids residing in the rural pockets of the State to draft a concrete policy that will eventually assist in curtailing crime against kids while fixing the responsibility of monitoring bodies.
Focusing on the idea of United Nation Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC), Chairperson, Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR) Arti Kujur said that only through inter-departmental co-ordination, public participation violation of child rights can be curbed.
“The Commission is focusing on child trafficking, drug abuse, sexual abuse including child marriage which is rampant here. Children are not just our future but they are our present as well. In an attempt to protect the rights of every child, participation of people from different strata of society is must,” Kujur added.
The representatives of several NGOs who have gathered on the occasion taking up the issues like safety, security, education, nutrition, laws meant for children’s protection including other parameters said that 100 percent result is yet to be achieved as several parameters are yet to be explored.
The consolidated reports of various government organizations including few independent agencies suggest alarming figure about the susceptibility of children. According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) report, 38 percent girls in Jharkhand are married before they attain the age of 18 years. 70 percent children in Jharkhand are anemic, maximum malnourished children are found in the State.