National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Kushal Singh wants the State Government to take suo-motu cognisance in issues related to Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR) including staff crunch, pending salaries and lack of budget due to which the commission is unable to work effectively.
Singh during the second foundation day of JSCPCR cum launch of ‘Street to School Campaign’ at the State capital on Thursday focused on the increase of trafficking and unsafe migration of children from the State.Notably, sources feel the Government’s action will help JSCPCR to mark a proper status like SCPCR of other States. Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, who was also present at this occasion, accepted that there were loopholes from the Government’s side. “We will try to sort out the problems of SCPCR like providing their pending salaries and recruitment of senior officers within a week,” Devi said.
Meanwhile, JSCPCR members devoid of their salaries for past two years have decided to knock the doors of court if their necessary demands are not fulfilled by Government in the specified time period.“Our commission needs equivalent status like Jharkhand State Commission for Women. Minister Annapurna Devi has assured us to make efforts for similar status on July 7. She had directed Social Welfare, Women and Child Development secretary Rajeev Arun Ekka to find a solution of our problems at the earliest,” JSCPCR Chairperson Rooplaxmi Munda pointed out.
She added, “Today the Minister told the NCPCR chairperson that constant efforts are being done to fulfill our genuine demands within a week. If no action is taken, we are determined to file a case in court to get justice over our sufferings. It becomes hard to manage money for our ongoing child-centric programmes without a fixed annual budget.”In order to compare the situation of JSCPCR, Munda had shown the status of SCPCR of Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Uttarakhand to the Minister.
On the other hand, marking the second foundation celebrations, JSCPCR launched ‘Street to School Campaign’ for school drop-outs who were victimized in trafficking. Over 200 such children sheltered at Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya and various NGOs from Ranchi and Khunti districts under this campaign attended the foundation day celebrations.
Appreciating the launch of the campaign, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda’s wife Meera Munda who was also present here as special guest felt the need of scholars motivating rescued children of trafficking towards education.