SHILLONG: Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) chairperson Mina Kharkongor has urged the State Government to set up a DNA testing facility in the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in the city.
“The DNA test is crucial for investigation, especially in criminal cases,” Kharkongor said in her introductory address during the State-level workshop on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Right to Education at Yojana Bhavan, Main Secretariat here on Saturday.
DNA testing is one of the most accurate forms of scientific identity confirmation available. It has assisted the justice system tremendously, enabling the convictions of criminals and also giving insight into unsolved crimes.
Kharkongor said that the State Government should ensure that the FSL has all the latest equipment in place so that the lab is competent enough to deliver reports of crimes against women and children in a time bound manner.
It may be mentioned that the FSL has in the past drew criticism for being ill-equipped to deal with several cases. In most instances, forensic materials have to be sent to places like Kolkata for examination adding to the delay which only lead to delays in solving crimes.
Meanwhile, Kharkongor said that as per the 2011 census, Meghalaya has 5, 55,822 children between the age group of 0-6 years, of which 2, 82,189 are boys and 2, 73,633 are girls.
With the growing population of children, the commission, Kharkongor said, is putting its focus to oversee the paramount mandate of the SCPCR to ensure that their rights of the children are protected and an environment congenial to their proper development and all round growth is created.
Expressing concern over the growing population of street children who are vulnerable and prone to anti-social behavior and drug abuse, Kharkongor said the government should undertake a census of the shelter-less children and ensure that they are rehabilitated.
Concerned about the issue of missing children, the MSCPR chairperson informed that helpdesks (1091) are functional at Shillong and Tura PCRs to help and assist women and children in distress.
She also said that the RTE Act, 2009 should be implemented in the right spirit to ensure that all children, including the differently-abled can avail the opportunity to go to school.
Meanwhile, Judge of Meghalaya High Court, Justice TNK Singh expressed concern over the high percentage of school drop outs, especially among children below 14 years of age.
To address the problem of school drop outs, Justice Singh said that the Centre has brought the Right to Education Act which clearly spells out that free and compulsory education should be provided to the citizens of the country below 14 years of age.
“The RTE describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution by which India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child when the act came into force on 1 April 2010,” Justice Singh said while addressing the gathering.
