‘Denying education biggest harassment to a child’

Morung Express News
Kohima | May 24  

An open house discussion on child protection mechanism with the VCCs, Ward Chairmen, JJB, SJPU, CCI’s and stakeholders was held on May 24 at The Heritage, organised by the District Child Protection Unit Kohima.  

Kohima Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Soudararanjan (IAS), who spoke at the discussion as the Guest Speaker, spoke on the necessity of the institutional mechanisms and how these inherent rights can be ensured to children. In any society, children continue to be the most vulnerable groups, stated Soudararanjan, because of their physical limitations, financial limitations and because of the various kinds of atmosphere they are exposed to.  

“That is why all these special mechanisms have to be in place otherwise this physical vulnerability can be exploited anytime. Children are exposed and vulnerable at almost all places of interaction they are in. That makes it necessary for all these mechanisms to be in place,” he said. The DC believed that the first and most basic concern to be prioritized is education of the children because education is the bedrock of the child’s development. Denying education can be the biggest harassment or violation to the child, he stated.  

The Kohima DC also observed that many children from underdeveloped regions are taken as helpers in Naga homes without providing any education or even a healthy environment for such children to develop themselves. And the neglect on the part of government officers was also noticed, he said.  

He therefore urged all stakeholders to ensure the right to education and further keep in mind that violations often do not come in explicit forms but in subtle and disguised forms. Violation of a child’s right to education is not just about restricting him/her to go to school, according to Soudararanjan, but it can come in the form of non-performance of teachers, failure to impart quality education, proxy teachers and absentees, which can contribute to the lack of opportunities for all-round development of children.  

Therefore the need for a holistic approach in tackling the child’s right to education was also emphasized. Because there are no specific mechanisms to deal with the subtle forms of violations, the Kohima DC appealed to the ward representatives and village authorities to strengthen the functioning of the education committee as they have enough power to deal with it and monitor the problems. If such issues are brought to the notice of the DC’s office, the DC assured that they will take action and not show any partiality or leniency.

Physical and sexual harassment

“As stakeholders it is our job that we give them (children) the confidence that if something happen they can always report it. You have to educate them properly and give them the confidence that if something happens they can always report it to the parents or teachers. Explain it at their level because the child will not be able understand,” said Soudararanjan.  

“If that percolation of information does not happen to children, having these mechanisms is of no use,” he noted, and advocated a reformative approach for children and not punitive approach. Understanding that the child does not maintain the right frame of mind, it is an incumbent duty for every adult to mould the child so that they develop a right frame of mind, he said. “All our actions have to be guided by this bedrock principle, because today’s children are going to be the next generation. We have the liberty to play with our generation but we do not have the right to play with the next generation,” he added.  

In this regard, he stressed on a holistic perspective of development of a child where there should be absolute synergy between coordinating departments, i.e. the government departments, village councils or children homes. “If this happens, definitely we will contribute towards not just protecting the children’s rights but also make sure that proper development of children happens thereby eliminating various cases of harassments and exploitation and neglect,” assured Soudararanjan.  

An open discussion was held where the representatives of the Wards, VCC, CWC, JJB, SJPU, CCPS discussed on the various means to implement the child protection mechanisms and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for each child in Kohima.