SHILLONG, MAY 9: Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Agatha Sangma, on Saturday underlined the need for stronger education for girls and collective action to prevent cases of child abandonment in the state.
Referring to a recent case where a mother abandoned her child, Sangma said the Commission and District Child Protection Units have been actively intervening.
“From the commission side we have been very proactive. Our member belonging to Ri-Bhoi district has personally gone and met the family,” she said. “The DCPUs have been very active, and forthcoming in ensuring that counselling is being given to the mothers who have abandoned their children.”
“This is something which is a collective effort that needs to be done from everybody’s side including the press,” she said.
“Awareness has to be generated and better education is important for young girls.” Sangma linked early relationships to lack of education. “A lot of young girls are not understanding the value of good education and they get involved in relationships,” she said.
“Strengthening our education system and making education more inclusive for our girl child is very important to ensure that girls get married at the proper age where they can take care of themselves and the family.”
Calling the recent incident “very unfortunate,” she said, “This is a specific case where the mother panicked and took that decision. I really hope that the system in general becomes more inclusive so that they feel more empowered to be able to take decisions.”
The Commission has not planned special measures yet.
“As of now, we have not decided. This is one of the cases that is happening, but if it gets to an alarming rate then we will definitely do,” Sangma said. On legal proceedings, she noted judicial developments around consensual teen relationships.
“The High Court has taken a very serious note of this, and now the Romeo-Juliet case will not be categorized in POCSO cases,” she said.
“Counselling is being given to couples where it is not POCSO cases except for the fact that they are minors.”
“Family support is very important and if they are put in POCSO then obviously complications are there. So the court is making sure that these cases do not come into POCSO,” she added.
Delineating jurisdiction, Sangma said, “We are in the Child Commission. That will be something that the Women Commission will be able to tell you, especially in cases against women.”
She also cited data shared by a resource person. “In POCSO, as our resource person Mr Das told us, 80% conviction has taken place,” she said.
By Our Reporter
