DIMAPUR NOT YET CHILD FRIENDLY, SAYS CHILDLINE DIRECTOR K. ELA
Child Friendly Dimapur (CFD) along with ANMA Integrated Development Association (AIDA) Dimapur conducted a workshop on the theme “making children our priority”, in the AIDA hall, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Campus here on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, director Prodigal’s Home, K Ela, who is also the collab director for Childline stated that Dimapur was not yet a child friendly district and pointed out that it was the most unsafe district for children in the state.
She said that though many children were raised in safe and secure environment, many were denied of their basic rights and were forced into child labour and child abuse.
Ela lamented how the problems faced by children were very complex and that they were not in the position to voice their concerns.
Disclosing that there were not enough professional counsellors to look into the problems faced by children, she urged the need for more professional counsellors. She also urged the gathering to fight the battle for child rights together as it was the duty of a responsible citizen to make their homes child friendly.
“We are just fighting a losing battle if we don’t come together and work together”, she stated.
Further speaking child abuse, she noted that child abuse was not only about child labour or children not getting proper education, but also about children facing substance issues, such as involvement in consumption of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc. She also maintained that school drop outs were most vulnerable and prone to antisocial elements.
“In order for Dimapur to become child friendly, every family has to become child friendly”, she later added.
Meanwhile, protection officer institution care, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Esther Sema spoke on Integrated Child Protection scheme (ICPS) and the roles of the DCPU in coordinating all child protection activities. She informed that the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) took care of children in need of care and protection and Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) took care of children in conflict with law.
Highlighting CWC, she said that when cases of children in difficult, vulnerable and distress situations came to notice, DCPU along with CWC conduct social investigation with CWC being the final and competent authority to dispose the case with regard to child abuse.
After through investigation, CWC decides whether a child would be restored to their parents or to a Child Care Institution (CCI), she informed.
Esther said that altogether, there were 19 CCIs in Dimapur, inclusive of government and private funded.
With regard to JJB, she said that the board handled all cases related to children below the age of 18 in conflict with law.
When investigation or inquiry was ongoing in cases concerning a juvenile, such children coming in conflict with law are kept at special CCIs.
She however lamented that most children in conflict with the law were in need of constant care and protection and were mistreated or were victims of social and economic deprivation.
On child rights ambassador which was launched in November 2019, she said that it was aimed at empowering children to be ambassadors of their own rights.
The programme was chaired by SMO, CFD, Carrol Lotha, and associate director, AIDA Rev. Fr. TT Joseph SDB, delivered welcome address.
It may be mentioned that the objective of the workshop was to bring together civil societies from various disciplines to discuss issues and concerns of children, brainstorm ideas and identify collective action plans to realise dream of making Dimapur a child friendly city.
Representatives from DCPU, CCI’s, Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, North East Christian University (NECU), and NGOs working with children such as Prodigals Home, Serendip Guardians, Can Youth, Peace Channel, CECS and colony leaders, attended the workshop.