By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With Children’s Day celebration being observed by various sections of the society in the city on Wednesday, it is however, disheartening to note that crime against children is on the rise in the state as compared to the previous years.
During the last few years, the state witnessed a rise in crime against minors, especially rape of a minors. According to the statistics provided by the Meghalaya police website, it was noticed that rape of a minor was recorded at 66 till last year from only 24 in 2003.
“What the state needs is courage on the part of the victim and her family to report the matter to the court to ensure that justice is served at the earliest”, programme coordinator of CHILDLINE Iba Synrem said.
Maintaining that there are still people especially, those residing in rural areas who avoid going to the police and seek help of the court, Synrem said “People still have that notion that by going to court or to the police, they might have to spend a lot of many which is in itself a drawback mainly because they cannot afford it.”
People need to understand the basic procedures when it comes to demanding justice from legal authorities, she said. Adding that most people often delay in filing FIRs thereby delaying the medical tests causing lost of evidences.
There is a need to spread awareness to the people on this issue especially in the rural areas, the Childline programme coordinator said. The law makers, police and social organisations should further strengthened their initiatives to fight this cause for a better tomorrow she adds.
Synrem, further blames the deteriorating human values and growth of science and technology for rise in crimes against children. “Nowadays people easily get access to the internet on their cell phones, thus enabling them to download unwanted sites which can be easily circulated and the worst part is when a person gets access to that, an urge is developed in them and sadly, in most cases, the victims of their desires are probably the small children”, she mentions.
On the other hand, Children’s Day was celebrated in and around the city by various schools and social organisations by organising various programmes which included picnics, various activities and rallies.
CHILDLINE organised a procession with an aim to spread the message of ‘My Education is my right’ from its office at Nongshilliang, Nongthymmai till Lady Hydari Park where the children were entertained with songs, dances, games and other activities by the social welfare department of St Edmund’s College, MLCU, IGNOU and CMJ university.
The children who participate in the procession included those from the SSA school in Cantonment area and those from Bosco Reach Out Shelter Home numbering to over 60 of them.
Meanwhile, this day was also celebrated by the Rotary club of Orchid city, in collaboration with Leadership Training Service (LTS) and YCS, the youth movements in Shillong, with a hope to bring a change in the society with regards to healthy living by organising a peace rally and an awareness campaign against smoking in public places and the abuse of tobacco products.
The peace rally which started from Don Bosco Square in Laitumkhrah and culminated at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday morning saw the participation of hundreds of students with placards that cautions the ill effects of smoking, took to the street at the same time, sensitising the law enforcement authorities to implement existing laws, such as banning such usage in public places, especially near educational institutions and the like.
“The role of a… student is as important as that of any other adult when it comes to making people aware of societal ills, which affects the human health and abstaining from tobacco will not only safe oneself but for all”, said a class V student G Marbaniang.
On reaching Raj Bhavan, the participants were enlightened by the words of encouragements from Governor RS Mooshahary, who later gave away the prizes to the winners of the slogan and poster competition on the theme “No To Tobacco” held last month.
Children’s day was also celebrated by the NYK Office, Shillong, by organising a marathon on the theme ‘Run for Unity’ which was participated by 120 children of Mylliem area. In the marathon, Toris Kurkalang emerged as the winner from the boys’ category while Artilin Kurkalang took away the prize along with a cash prize of Rs 3000 as the winner from the girls’ category.