By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed the State Government to formulate its own set of rules for constitution of a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights within a period of three months.
“We have issued this directive to the State Government as per the mandated Section of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. The state government has to complete the formulation of rules within three months. The rules have to be tabled in the floor of the Assembly for its approval.” NCPCR member Dr Yogesh Dube told reporter after his meeting with Chief Secretary WMS Pariat and other senior Government Officials on Tuesday.
As per the Section 18 of the Act, he said, that the State Government is required to formulate its own rules for constitution of the State Commission. The NCPCR has also asked the Government to regulate and register organisations which are running and operating orphanages and children shelter homes in the State.
“We are surprised to learn that the State Government does not have a mechanism in place to regulate and register these organisations. Regulation of these organisations is important since they are receiving financial assistance from the State Government besides availing benefits of a host of other Government schemes,” the NCPCR member said.
“These organisations should understand that their duty does not end with providing only shelter to these hapless children. They should also ensure that the children are being given all the basic support so that their rights are protected,” Dube said.
The NCPCR member aired concern over children being made to work under hazardous condition in coal mines of the State.
“We have been told by officials of the State Government that they have so far rescued around 232 children working in coal mines.
But it was shocking to know that only 32 of these children have been rehabilitated in the mainstream of the society while there is no clue to where about of rest of the lot.
This is not acceptable and all the rescued children should be traced,” Dube said.Meanwhile, the visiting NCPCR team directed the State Government to prepare an action plan for addressing the various issues relating to violation of child rights.
The team will submit its recommendations to the government on the basis of its findings in the State.