Nagaland Alliance for Child Rights calls for developing effective public awareness
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 22
Chairperson, Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR), Meilemla Pongener, has said “public awareness” can be part of an overall approach to preventing child abuse and neglect.
“We need to develop an effective child abuse prevention message as well as effective public awareness activities and programmes. By effective planning and newsworthy activities, communities can help to promote healthy parenting practices, child safety skills and protocols for reporting suspected maltreatment,” the NSCPCR chairperson said.
Addressing the first foundation day of Nagaland Alliance for Child Rights (NACR) here at Miqlat Ministry on Tuesday, Meilemla, reflected on NACR’s motto ‘Safer Nagaland for women and children’ and posed a question: “Are we safe, both women and children in Nagaland? Are we safe in our own land? If we are not safe in our own land, how can we expect safety in the mainland or in other states?” She added, “Everyday we see violation of rights of women and children –rights enshrined in Constitution of India.”
She said in the past Naga society, women and children played a very important role, especially in economic and social activities, and in return men folk protected them from enemies.
But with the vast advancement of technology and science in the present day, lifestyles and social structures have undergone drastic changes even in Naga society and so “every day we see one or the other dreadful thing happening in our society, which were not the issues” in the by-gone days, she said.
“Even as we work to bring justice in child abuse cases, which are becoming rampant with the changing of times, one very important aspect that we must focus on is prevention,” the NSCPCR chairperson said.
Meilemla also reminded women that whenever “we talk about protection of child rights, we as women are a part of it, since every child is from a mother-a woman. And I feel that we as mothers and women should play a very important roles to protect our rights.”
President, Naga Women Hoho Dimapur, Hukheli Wotsa, also shared on the plight of women and children in the context of the present Naga society.
Vice president NACR, NT Kikon, spoke on the issues of illegal adoption in Nagaland and NACR secretary, Liangamang Robert, presented the activities of NACR since its formation a year back. Renowned Naga musician Alobo Naga presented a special number on the occasion followed by a special song and choreography from kids of ‘Canaan House of Hope.’ Earlier, NACR president, NK Keny, delivered the welcome address.
Stop ‘illegal adoptions’ in hospitals: NACR
Nagaland Alliance for Child Rights (NACR) has urged the immediate intervention of Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR) into rampant illegal adoptions taking place in both government and private hospitals in Nagaland by serving notice to stop giving infants for adoptions from hospitals.
NACR, in a representation to chairperson NSCPCR, stated that such practices not only violate the best interest of the child in the process of adoption but is also a direct violation of Government of India rules on Adoption, which is punishable under Section 370 IPC with imprisonment of not less than 7 years but may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine. NACR said the notice may also be published in local newspapers.
The alliance also called upon NSCPCR to disseminate information on legal adoption to the general public through publicity in all forms of mass media/print media to stop all illegal adoptions outside licensed specialized adoption agencies. Further, NACR also appealed for effective implementation of ICPS schemes in Nagaland, setting up of an observation home in Dimapur for Dimapur district and, a special home for children affected/infected by HIV.
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