Guwahati: Assam showed the way for the country when it became the first state in India to observe Child Protection Day on Tuesday. Marked by celebrations across all the districts of the state, a central function was held at the Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium in the city under the aegis of the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), in collaboration with UNICEF. About 1400 children from the city and its suburbs took part in the function.
A report on “Secondary Data Analysis of Women and Children in Assam” brought out by the UNICEF was also released on the occasion.
The highlight of the function was the impressive and colourful dances and skits performed by schoolchildren to highlight issues of quality education, importance of protection of children, child trafficking and child marriage.
Noted mime artist and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winner Mr Mainul Haque enthralled the audience with his mime act on child protection issue. Prominent singer Mrs. Anima Choudhury, Bhur Tal Nritya exponent Ghunokanta Borbayan, folk artiste Ms. Jina Rajkumari and Bihu troupe of Ms. Dreamly Gogoi also regaled the young audience with their scintillating performances.
Leading the country in observing the celebration, key stakeholders from various parts of Assam gathered at the venue to mark the occasion. The colourful programme concluded with a pledge by everyone present to always work for protection of children against all forms of abuse and ensure their rights. The pledge was administered by ASCPCR Chairperson Ms Runumi Gogoi.
Preceding the Child Protection Day celebrations, a series of state-level awareness-raising and capacity building workshops and consultations on child protection issues were organised by the ASCPCR. These were held from 26 February to 3 March 2014 and is expected to lend momentum to focused deliberation on child protection issues in Assam, bring child protection to the forefront of policy advocacy as well as enhance awareness on the role of the ASCPCR in protecting the rights of children as per the statutory provisions of The Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
The four technical consultations organized by ASCPCR in partnership with UNICEF in the run up to the celebration of Child Protection Day on 4th March focused on four key issues pertaining to protection of children in Assam.
Starting the series of discussions, day one (26 February) focused on strengthening the adoption process in Assam followed by addressing child marriage on day two (27 February), protecting children from child labour and child trafficking on day three (28 February) and finally on Right to Education Act, 2009 on the fourth and final day (3 March).
The consultations were held at the Indian Institute of Bank Management, Khanapara, Guwahati and attended by a cross section of stakeholders and duty bearers from the Government, statutory bodies and civil society agencies from all districts of Assam.
Tuesday’s programme was Inaugurated by Ms. Runumi Gogoi, Chairperson i/c of ASCPCR, Justice Dr. (Mrs.) Indira Shah, Hon’ble Judge of Gauhati High Court, was the chief guest on the occasion, while Mr. Akon Bora, Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare Department and Jails, Govt. of Assam and Dr. Tushar Manohar Rane, Chief of the UNICEF Assam Field Office were special guest and guest of honour respectively.
