Our Correspondent
Kohima | October 27
Expressing concern over the rise in cases of child-abuse, child-trafficking and other juvenile-related crimes, Parliamentary Secretary in-charge of Social Welfare and Women Development Chotisuh Sazo today underscored the need to create awareness in the state as well as at the national level to ensure that all children get the opportunity to grow to full potential in a safe environment.
Speaking as chief guest at a one-day workshop, ‘Juvenile Justice Implementation and Integrated Child Protection Scheme’, the parliamentary secretary lamented that cases of child-trafficking and child-abuse which were once unheard of in Nagaland have now become common.
The parliamentary secretary also reminded that Nagaland became the first state from the entire Northeast region and the fourth in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development on October 8, 2009 to implement the Integrated Child Protection Scheme. He also pointed out that Nagaland is among the few states in the entire country to have set up statutory bodies such as the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), CWC and Juvenile Police units in all the eleven districts of the state.
“Today we are at the threshold of a new beginning – a beginning where we will ensure that all children get the opportunity to grow to their full potential with safe, enabling environment”, he said.
Also speaking at the occasion as the resource person Avik Mitra, Coordinator of Childline India Foundation explained the importance of networking, the salient features of the JJ Act 2000 and functions of SJPUs in relation to JCLs and gave an overview of the Childline India Foundation. Earlier, Neihu Thurr, Chairman of SCPS and Secretary for Social Welfare delivered the welcome address. The programme was organized in collaboration with Childline India Foundation India and supported by the Nagaland department of Social Welfare.
