Photo Courtesy: Image from Pixabay | For representational purpose only
Fr Dr CP Anto & Dr Toli H Kiba
The recent abuse of a minor girl in Dimapur has deeply disturbed society and once again brought the issue of child protection into public focus. While legal investigations will determine the facts of the case, the incident serves as a painful reminder that children remain vulnerable to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence regardless of their social, educational, religious, or economic backgrounds.
Over the past years, reports of child sexual abuse, physical violence, neglect, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation have periodically emerged from different parts of Nagaland and the Northeast. This does not appear to be an isolated incident. While some cases receive public attention and legal intervention, many such cases remain unreported due to fear, stigma, family pressure, lack of awareness, or limited access to reporting mechanisms. The cases that come to light may represent only a fraction of the challenges faced by vulnerable children.
Child protection is not simply about responding to abuse after it occurs. It involves creating safe and supportive environments where children are protected, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. Achieving this requires the collective commitment of families, communities, churches, schools, professionals, and government institutions. India has enacted important laws, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, but legislation alone cannot guarantee child safety. Effective protection depends on awareness, vigilance, accountability, and coordinated action at every level of society.
For Nagaland, child protection should be viewed not only as a legal obligation but also as a moral and Christian responsibility. The Christian faith affirms the dignity and worth of every human person. Jesus showed particular concern for children and warned against harming the vulnerable. Protecting children therefore reflects the Gospel values of love, compassion, justice, and stewardship. Churches occupy a unique place in Nagaland's social fabric. Their presence in almost every village and community places them in a strategic position to promote awareness of child rights, strengthen family values, provide parenting education, and establish safeguarding policies for church-related activities involving children. Churches can also help reduce the stigma associated with reporting abuse and support survivors and families in accessing appropriate services.
Child protection cannot be left solely to religious institutions. Government agencies must strengthen existing child protection mechanisms and ensure that school, hostels, children's homes, and residential institutions maintain the highest standards of safety. Child Welfare Committees, District Child Protection Units, healthcare services, educational institutions, and law enforcement agencies must work in close coordination to respond effectively to concerns involving children.
Child protection cannot succeed without the active involvement of village councils, youth organizations, women's groups, educational institutions, and community leaders. Together, they can help create a culture where abuse is neither tolerated nor ignored and where children feel safe to seek help when needed.
An often overlooked aspect of child protection in Nagaland is rural education. Many parents send their children to towns in search of better educational opportunities. Thousands of children live away from their families with relatives, guardians, or extended family members. While many children are cared well, others experience emotional neglect, excessive domestic responsibilities, exploitation, or abuse. Separation from parents at a young age affects emotional well-being, identity formation, and academic development. Therefore, strengthening rural education can serve as an important child protection strategy by enabling children to remain within the safety and support of their families and communities.
This requires greater investment in school infrastructure, learning resources, digital connectivity, and teacher development. Equally important is addressing teacher absenteeism and eliminating ghost teachers. Every appointed teacher must attend school regularly and fulfil his or her professional responsibilities. The value of education cannot be measured solely by enrolment figures. Even if only one child is enrolled in a village school, that child deserves quality teaching, individual attention, and meaningful educational opportunities. The right to education belongs to every child, regardless of geography or population size.
Professional social workers are trained to identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, support families, advocate for children's rights, and strengthen community-based protection systems. Their work extends beyond crisis intervention to include awareness programmes, family counselling, rehabilitation services, research, policy advocacy, and capacity building. Schools should engage qualified social workers and counsellors to support children's emotional well-being, identify early signs of abuse, and assist families facing challenges.
Real-life incidents often exposes the vulnerabilities faced by children and adolescents. On one occasion, faculty members from NEISSR encountered a teenage girl in Dimapur who had travelled from a rural area and had been abandoned by a friend. Alone, frightened, and without luggage or proper footwear, she appeared distressed and unsure of where to turn. Concerned citizens and the faculty members intervened promptly, contacted her relatives, and ensured that she was safely reunited with her family. While the incident ended positively, it serves as a powerful reminder of how easily children can become vulnerable when separated from their families and support networks. Technology has added another dimension to child protection. Children today face risks related to cyberbullying, online exploitation, harmful content, digital manipulation, and online grooming.
Nagaland possesses Strong family networks, vibrant churches, active civil society organizations, dedicated teachers, professional social workers, community institutions, and committed government agencies. All these institutions can support its vision of becoming a model state for child protection. Achieving this vision requires more than policies and programmes. It demands that child protection and well-being remain at the centre of decision-making in families, schools, churches, communities, and public institutions.
Protecting children is not merely a legal obligation. It is a moral duty, a Christian calling, and a shared social responsibility. By working together, Nagaland can become not only a child-friendly state but also a model for child protection and child well-being in India. Let’s make every child safe, every child respected, every child heard, and every child empowered to reach his or her full potential.
