From Our Correspondent
TURA: In a decisive step to protect the children of the region, the West Garo Hills district administration has formed the Childline Advisory Board, a programme of the Ministry of Government of India to provide care and support for children in difficult circumstances.
The formation of the Child Line Advisory Board with the Deputy Commissioner as Chairperson, the District Child Protection Officer as Member Secretary and Bakdil as Facilitating Collaborative Agency took place on Wednesday.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi spoke about the usefulness of the formation of the Board at a time when the rights of the children are under national attention and focus through such heinous acts as rape.
While emphasizing the need to protect and care for children, Bakshi called for serious thinking on the direction the society is heading in the context of violation of the rights of the children in a matrilineal society. Bakshi further reminded that traditional law has a limit and heinous crimes as rape of children should be addressed through the law of the land.
He congratulated Bakdil for the prompt intervention in a number of cases in collaboration with the District Child Protection Officer.
The Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills, an ex-officio member of the Board, minced no words when he said that the cases brought to the notice of the Police would be taken up and wherever necessary charge-sheets will be filed without loss of time to ensure that the ‘law of the land’ is enforced without fear of favor and prejudice.
The District Child Protection Officer gave a brief report of the cases that have been brought to her knowledge and actions taken up.
Director of Bakdil who was present along with the staff of the Programme gave a brief presentation on Child Line Advisory Board and said that basically it is a twenty four hour emergency phone outreach service for children in need of care and protection through a toll free number (1098) that can be used from a landline number.
The programme is of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Child Line India Foundation, a national civil society organization, is the implementing Agency while Bakdil in Garo Hills is the collaborative organization, he informed. He also gave a summary report of five cases they have effectively intervened in the past.