Kohima: A voluntary organization, the Peace Channel has organised a two-day discussion and workshop on the National Policy for Children (NPC) 1974 at Dimapur, as the Ministry of Women and Child Development takes up issue in framing the revised Policy for Children, which concluded yesterday.
According to sources here on Saturday a team of 26 members consisting of Peace Channel animators from various districts of Nagaland, school and college students of different institutions in Dimapur have studied and discussed the new draft of the NPC 2012.
The two-day workshop concluded yesterday with the students’ interactive sessions, group discussion. The programme was planned on the basis of the invitation for comments on the draft of the NPC by the Government and the India Alliance for Child Rights (IACR). Rev. Fr. C. P. Anto, Director of Peace Channel, has highlighted main points of the new draft. He has appreciated the new draft which according to him was comprehensive adding that the new NPC 2012 begins with a beautiful preamble. He also stressed on the Article 3.7 (VI) on education wherein it speaks to create child friendly process of teaching and learning pedagogy.
In this context, the Director of Peace Channel said that unfortunately, our children in Nagaland does not study the history of our state and region but are well versed in the history of America or Europe. He stressed on the issue of inclusion of regional history and the uniqueness of oral tradition of the respective region in the new national policy for children 2012. He also emphasized on the Article 3.7 of the Constitution of India promoting all round good health, hygiene and sanitation practices through schools.
He said most schools in Nagaland have good infrastructure, while some schools don’t have the basic requirements of toilet for both girls and boys and drinking water facilities. He felt that the new National Policy for Children should be more proactive towards the needs of the poor and marginalized. He further said NPC also should ensure uplift of the minority and tribal. He said the policy should uphold and ensure inclusive national spirit to benefit all the children in India, irrespective of region and culture. (UNI)