Morung Express News
Kohima | November 14
Commemorating Children’s day, the CHILDLINE Se Dosti campaign began November 14 where a flash mob was also conducted as part of the celebration in Kohima at Old MLA Hostel Junction. The campaign is celebrated in the month of November every year across the country by CHILDLINE to create awareness on child related issues.
Khriehuzo Lohe, Chairman, Child Welfare Committee who spoke on child related issues in Kohima briefed the gathering on the activities of CHILDLINE which works for child protection dealing in matters of abandoned, abused, neglected and deprived children. We have dealt with 256 cases in three years, informed Lohe, with most of the cases mainly on abused children-physically, emotionally, sexually. The rescued children are kept in shelter homes in Kohima located in different parts of the capital. One major problem in Kohima cited by Lohe was the issues on domestic help where children from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh are taken as domestic help in many homes in Kohima where they are made to work without proper amenities. While agreements are made by the owners to provide salaries and education for the children working as domestic help, in many cases the children are deprived of all these assurances. Often the rights of children are forgotten and they are taken in as workers, stated Lohe who also mentioned that children are also made to work as laborers.
While there are many cases on abuses of domestic help, Lohe also criticized the owners and the child’s family where even after abuse there is compromise and the accused is often forgiven in mutual understanding. Lohe warned that such ‘mutual understandings’ and ‘forgiveness’ will soon decrease as the movement for child rights increases with the penalties and punishments ensured by the law against the accused. Laws and policies, protection on child rights were highlighted where Lohe also urged the public to dial 1098, toll free, in case of any incidences on abuses and deprivation against children where help is available round the clock.
The programme was chaired by Mhalesinuo Tepa who also gave a brief introduction to CHILDLINE. The CHILDLINE which started in Nagaland in 2014 has so far received more than 2000 calls where 300 children has been rescued, informed Tepa. The benediction was pronounced by Kedo Peseyie, Pastor, City Church. The flash mob was performed by Dexterians.
