By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 17: The Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has assured the family of the four-year-old girl from Nongrah, who was found dead recently, that it will ensure justice is served and the truth behind the incident is revealed.
MSCPCR chairperson Agatha K. Sangma, who visited the bereaved family, said the commission stands firmly with them during this difficult time.
She assured that the commission would continue to extend all possible support to the family and monitor the case to ensure that justice is delivered.
“We extend our full support to the family. They have requested us to engage with the investigating officers during the inquiry, and we will continue to do so,” Sangma told reporters.
Expressing deep sorrow, she said, “Losing a child is perhaps the greatest pain anyone can experience. No one can truly recover from such a loss, and I would never wish that upon anyone.”
Meanwhile, Sangma expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for convening a meeting with all stakeholders to discuss measures for the protection of women and children. “The Chief Minister’s meeting was very holistic, involving not just the police, social welfare, and women’s and children’s commissions, but also Dorbar Shnongs, church leaders, women’s organisations, and NGOs,” she said.
Sangma added that the meeting yielded valuable suggestions and that the Chief Minister has assured to act on them.
“There will be many steps taken, including the formation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). It’s important that the government considers everyone’s inputs,” she stated.
Sangma stressed that the safety of women and children cannot be achieved by the government or the commissions alone.
“It requires a collective effort and the entire community must come together. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and in this case, we are that village, including the media, all responsible for protecting our children,” she remarked.
Highlighting the alarming rise in crimes against minors, the MSCPCR chairperson said that lack of awareness is one of the key challenges.
“There are many legal provisions to protect children, but awareness is very low. For instance, many stakeholders were unaware of the child helpline number,” she noted.
She said that while both the central and state governments have created several mechanisms for child protection, their implementation and public knowledge remain inadequate.
Sangma also emphasised the need to strengthen safety measures in schools. “Safety of a child in schools is paramount. The NCPCR has developed handbooks and modules for teacher training, but many institutions are yet to form Child Safety or Child Welfare Committees as required. These must be implemented,” she urged.
At the family level, Sangma called on parents to play a more proactive role.
“We as parents and family members need to be more aware of our children — who they engage with, where they go, and how safe they are. Many children today spend more time on mobile phones and less in conversation with their parents. Communication within families needs to become much stronger,” she stressed.
