Veroli Zhimo
The Constitution of India recognizes children as equal right holders and grants highest priority for their protection and well-being. As a result strong legal frameworks such as the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015; the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012; Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994; the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act 2005; the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009; Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006; the National Policy for Children, 2013; and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, have been put in place to protect child rights and safeguard them.
However, the latest report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in August shows that 1,49,404 cases of crime against children were registered in 2021 of which 53,874 — 36.05% — were under the POCSO Act.
There were 47,221 POCSO cases out of 1,28,531 cases of crime against children in 2020 (36.73%) and 47,335 of 1,48,185 such cases in 2019 (31.94%).
As per the report, in Nagaland, ‘Crime against children’ in 2021 jumped by over 77% over the previous year. A grave concern in the case of Nagaland was that the rise in crime against children was propelled by cases under POCSO Act, 2012 which was enacted to ‘protect children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography,’ among others.
In 2021, offences under POCSO Act in Nagaland nearly doubled from 18 to 31, the highest since 2017, when there were 41 cases. It denoted a surge of over 72.22% from 2020.
Even in 2022, crimes against children continue to be registered in the State over the months since the NCRB data was released. The most recent case was reported in October 19 when two persons were accused of physically and mentally abusing three minors in Dimapur.
In addition to such cases, Nagaland has also seen its fair share of controversy over years on the school education system. Whether it pertains to policies, condition of government-run schools or ground-level schooling, all have brought the state school system to the forefront and raised questions on how children are treated in their learning spaces.
A large number of student bodies and other organisations have frequently issued ultimatums, submitted several representations underscoring how various factors like proxy teaching, inadequate teaching faculty, dilapidated infrastructure etc, have been causing learning loss for children across the State, especially those in remote rural areas.
Even in terms of healthcare, Nagaland does not have dedicated children’s hospitals and other infrastructure, focused on the general wellbeing of children.
Notably, while the government has to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that the child rights are not violated; children’s issues have hardly been brought out in the mainstream or figured in any political party's manifesto.
Programmes of sensitising society regarding the proper upbringing of children, rights they are entitled to, and the welfare programmes meant for them lies on the state and the same can be carried out through educational institutions more specifically. In this context, the causes, symptoms and prevention of child abuse also need to be brought into the limelight so that appropriate steps are taken in case such abuse in any form is witnessed anywhere.
Educational institutions also have a great responsibility in relation to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare, individually and collectively.
Overall, it is evident there is an urgent need for decision makers to recognize that the State, NGOs, civil society, and parents need to put their heads together for more proactive action to address the issue. It is only when the agenda of protecting and safeguarding child rights stops being an afterthought in the development agenda of the state that the celebration of Children’s Day will become truly relevant.
Comments can be sent to vzhimolimi@gmail.com
