Debora stresses for need of better child protection services

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Jan 29: Meghalaya’s Social Welfare Minister, Debora C Marak today stressed for the need to have better child protection services.

According to Marak, there was a need to involve all stakeholders in society so as to reduce vulnerabilities of children, to strengthen the protective role of families and communities and to promote meaningful child participation.

The Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister was addressing a one-day training programme on Child Rights and Child Protection held at Yoja Bhavan in the city on Friday.

The training programme was organised by the State Child Protection Society and Social Welfare Department to sensitise the target groups on the provision of the law pertaining to children to eble them to function professiolly and effectively.

“Children are the seeds that needs to be sown so as to be able to get a good harvest not only for their individual life but also for society” the Social Welfare Minister said.

Marak said that like every other adult human being, children also have their basic rights of being born in a safe and non discrimitory environment in a healthy and dignified way.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights chairperson Mee Kharkongor who also addressed the gathering expressed concern over several cases relating to crimes against children, which are pending trial.

She pointed out that from 2012 to 2015, there were around 275 cases relating to crime against children, which are pending trial in courts.

Giving a district wise break-up Kharkongor informed that there are 98 cases pending trial in East Khasi Hills, 42 in West Khasi Hills, 40 in Ri Bhoi, 29 in West Garo Hills, 14 in East Jaintia Hills, 37 in West Jaintia Hills, 14 in East Garo Hills and one in North Garo Hills.  

The resource persons for the day long programme include Mahendrasingh M. Sengar, Convener, North East for Child Rights and Pramod Kulkarni, Founder Secretary of SATHI.