The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) has expressed concerns that the lack of adoption of the Manipur State Policy for Children 2020 has made it difficult for the MCPCR to handle the rights of children amid the ongoing crisis.
The policy by Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights was drafted after a series of consultations with different stakeholders, under the Social Welfare Department as nodal department.
During a press conference held on Monday at the MCPCR office, chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar said it has been 18 months since the conflict started and has affected children. Especially now that the situation has turned into an ethnic conflict and children being targeted, he added.
He criticised incidents that targeted children intentionally as a form of revenge.
He decried and condemned the killing of children stating that during war or war-like situations, children and women should not be attacked but they should rather be protected. It is universal, he added.
In connection with the recent Jiribam incident where six including children were killed, the MCPCR chairperson informed that the commission had written a letter to the National Commission for Women, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, DGP Manipur, Security Advisor, SP Jiribam and also to chief secretary for immediate intervention.
However, six bodies were recovered next by next and based on a report of that, the MCPCR again wrote a letter of urgent call to NCW and NCPCR to visit Manipur and look into the matter deeply. Following that, two members from the NCW visited, the chairperson informed.
And though there is information of NCPCR visiting Manipur so far, he informed.
“From the beginning, the MCPCR have been taking steps to protect child rights”, he said, adding that the responsibility of the MCPCR is limited due to lack of policy.
“Pending a Manipur State Policy for Children is a big drawback”, said Keisham Pradipkumar.
If the state government wants, it can easily adopt the policy but it is not doing so, he said, adding that if the government fails to adopt, the commission would approach the high court.
Taking part in the press conference, MCPCR ambassador Jinatri Thounounam, student of Mega Manipur, appealed to the state government to save the future generation.
“We are not part of the conflict, we are the future generation. Safe children from brutality, inhuman act”, the ambassador said.
