SHILLONG: State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Chairperson, Meena Kharkongor has urged the street children of the city to pursue their education at whatever cost.
Speaking at a programme organised by Reach Shillong Ministries in association with Sadar Police Station on Wednesday on the occasion of International Street Children’s Day, Kharkongor highlighted the significance of the day and urged upon Reach Shillong Ministries to continue their good work with an objective of bringing a change in the life of the street children.
The statement of the SCPCR chief assumes significance as there are hundreds of street children in Shillong, who till date do not have access to quality education and quality life.
A seminar on the issues faced by the street children was conducted and the programme was also dotted with songs and prayers apart from a testimony by Vijay Chettri, who was a street boy and now he is residing at the open day shelter of the ministry.
The resource person for the programme included S. Khonglah, a medical officer from Police Hospital, Inspector D K Prasad from Sadar Police Station and others who shared their experiences on the issues faced by the street children.
During the programme, street children also exhibited their talent as they enthralled the dignitaries with their songs and dances.The International Day for Street Children takes place on April 12 and the day provides a platform for the millions of street children around the world to speak out so that their rights cannot be ignored.