Child protection workshop

SHILLONG, MAY 28: Meghalaya government will be setting up Child Welfare Committtees, Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU) in the newly created districts of the state to ensure safe environment for children by protecting their rights.

Meghalaya social welfare department principal secretary PW Ingty said.“These units have been set up in the seven districts of Meghalaya with more to come up in the newly created districts.”

Addressing a two – day orientation workshop on Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) which got underway o Tuesday at the Don Bosco Youth Centre, Ingty said under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2006, it is mandatory to set up a mechanism like the CWCs, JJB and SJPU.

Ingty said that the CWC is the competent authority to safeguard and promote functional families and safe environments for children, it disposes of cases for the care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection and provides legal and counseling support adding the function of the JJB, is to conduct inquiries and be child friendly

With regards to SJPU, he said that the police unit is the first to come in contact with children in trouble and therefore it is important for them to be sensitized.

Social Welfare assistant director CN Marak said that the orientation programme is to build capacity and sensitize machineries in coordination with departments and civil society. She said that the successful implementation of ICPS can be possible with the active participation of main stakeholders which will strengthen their services towards children’s welfare.

National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) Guwahati assistant director Dr S Barik who is also the resource person for  the programme said that in recent times Meghalaya has witnessed many child rights violation. She said that the lectures on the role and responsibilities of CWCs, JJBs, SJPU and the media will further enhance their knowledge on the issue and will strengthen their capacity to eliminate such violations.- By Our Reporter