ASCPCR to Duty Bearers: Monitor Safety of Children During COVID Pandemic

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) organised a virtual meeting to review the implementation of child protection services as part of a ongoing multiphased webinar.

Dr. Sunita Changkakati, Chairperson of ASCPCR welcomed all the participants to the webinar and informed about the objective of the webinar. She mentioned in her address about the need to keep a check in the safety of children during covid, especially those who may have been orphaned due to covid-19.

As it was observed last year, numerous cases of crimes against children were registered during the lockdown period. Therefore she encouraged all participants to continue rendering their duties through virtual medium and also on ground as child protection duty bearers also constitute the frontline workers.

Dr. Pilu Hazarika, Member of ASCPCR, engaged with the Child Welfare Committee (CWCs) and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPUs) to learn about the status of vaccination of children and staffs living in the children homes and the specialised adoption agencies, case reporting and production of cases before the CWC. Rupa Hazarika, Member of ASCPR in her address engaged about the mental health component and encouraged the duty bearers to promote awareness on mental health of children through social media as virtual awareness is the need of the hour during the pandemic. Ajoy Dutta, Member of ASCPCR, interacted with the Social Welfare officers and the assistant labour commissioner/ labour officers present in the status of vaccination of Anganwadi workers, district child labour task force meetings.

He instructed all the Districts present to conduct child labour survey report within the next 3 months and also to convene the labour task force meetings with concerned DCs wherever not done yet. Phanindra Bujar Baruah, Member of ASCPCR Demand in his interaction with the participants' sole about the gap which has been reflected upon the education of children. With the postponement of class X and class XII exams, it has become a stressful situation for children.

Such mental pressure of uncertainty has resulted in multiple dangers to children such as mental health issues, problems of substance abuse, lack of motivation to study etc. He appealed to all duty bearers to co-operate in making online education for children as effectively as possible.

The participating duty bearers, especially employees from CHILDLINE expressed the concern of vaccination of their employees on a priority basis as they are the first responders in case of distress to a child and have to be available for work irrespective of Covid-19 guidelines.

Meanwhile, the webinar was participated by the District Child Protection Units, Child Welfare Committees, District Social Welfare Officer and Asst Labour Commissioner/ labour officer of Biswanath, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Sivasagar, Tinsukia districts. The webinar will also cover the remaining districts of Assam in the upcoming weeks.

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