As I write this issue concerning our Govt, our People and our Children in difficult circumstances in need of care and protection, the shocking picture of that abused body of the young ten year old boy from Kohima (recently in news in all local media and NDTV) continues to haunt me. The young body covered with shocking shades of gruesome colors of pain. Let no fellow human be this cruel ever again, let no child be treated this way ever again. I hope our Govt; our People will rise up to the call and make our society safe for all our children, whether it be Naga, Nepali, Bengali, Bihari, Muslim, Adivasi, Christian, Hindu etc etc. A child is a child, having their own distinct human rights. I am painfully, shamefully and guiltily aware (aren’t we all?) that many ‘child domestic helpers’ (?) workers (?) laborers (?) servants (?) slaves (?) (called by all kinds of names) are losing their ‘childhood’ their ‘innocence’ their ‘human spirit’ their ‘dignity’ their ‘human rights’ everyday in some or the other homes across Nagaland. Dimapur and Kohima, the two most ‘advanced’ towns of the state will be the guiltiest in violations of rights of children engaging maximum ‘illegal child domestic labor’ and all forms of exploitation.
Concern citizens’ war against child rights violation can happen only when we all put into practice our bit of humanity that’s deep within each of us human beings, irrespective of tribe, community, religion, race, nationality etc. All of us have a role to play:
Teachers:
Like the observant GPS teachers of Bayavii colony who reported the case of the abused boy, if all teachers make it a responsibility to see that child rights of their students are not violated, that will be one big step. Children can be taught about their own rights and responsibilities in the classes/schools by their teachers. Knowing their own rights and responsibilities and respecting the rights of other children is an important value education for every child.
Vigilant and Responsible neighbors:
If any community member in the neighborhood see vulnerable children being mistreated by anyone, if we as responsible citizens voice out our human concern and do something to protect our children, our localities/neighborhood will be a much better place. E.g. A house wife mercilessly beating and abusing child domestic labour be reported to police
Student bodies:
Every child has a right to education (Right to Education Act). If the respective student bodies can ensure that every child be in school and make sure that the Govt make all facilities available for children for quality education, the future will be better for all of us. Any form of cruelty to children/students is taken up by concern student body to ensure safe and protective environment for all children, our children will be protected.
Churches:
All Christian boys and girls grew up singing the Sunday school song, ‘Jesus love the little children, all the children of the world…’. We (children and adults together) have to start singing that song all over again with our heart and soul in all the churches and out of the churches in the neighborhood and in the street corners and in the homes. Child rights should be preached in all the churches. It is a sin to mistreat/abuse/exploit poor vulnerable children. All the loud singing and loud praying are of no value as long as the poor domestic child labor in the homes continues to suffer and cry in the cruel hands of the ‘Christian Malik’. Being a good Christian is not all about singing and praying, it’s about practicing love and compassion (as we all continue to hear every Sunday in the church and in the Bible)
Govt Deptt:
If the respective Govt Deptt can educate its employees about the Rights of Children, the crimes of child labour/child abuse/illegal adoption/child trafficking can be prevented/reduced in the homes of the educated officers who, out of ignorance (?) illegally continue to employ child domestic workers in their homes. It will be/is a shame to see a respected Govt employee behind bars for child rights violation. What a shame for all of us.
GBs/Village Councils/Hohos:
Like the Bayavii Panchayat/Youth org/Women group who came to the rescue of the child victim and reported the matter to the police, if all the respective local leaders show their concern and act accordingly, our society can be a model for others to learn and emulate. Local authorities can mobilize young people to watch out for such offenders in their respective localities.
Law Enforcement: The law enforcement can be oriented and sensitized about child rights issues so as to ensure sensitive handling of such cases of children. Many times it has happened that due to ignorance, violation of child rights happen even in the police stations.
Children’s Homes/Counselors for Children:
Enough rehabilitation homes/care homes be set up in each district so as to give a safe and reformative environment for those children in need of care and protection. Every Children home be placed with trained counselors or the existing staff in the homes be given proper counseling to give appropriate counseling to children in any kind of traumatic/abusive experience. Victims of abuse/trauma victims should be given proper counseling at the right time.
NMA:
NMA members must be made aware off child rights issues, child labour, child trafficking etc. The mothers are the strongest force that can be mobilized to address the issues of child protection and child safety and ensuring child rights. Ignorance of the mothers on child rights is fueling child trafficking/child labour/child rights violation etc. The concern NMA units/Hoho units can draw action plans on how to prevent their children from abusive/exploitative situations and also how to ensure that their unit members are well informed and educated about child rights so as not to become violators of child rights in their homes. The example of some Eastern Naga women and student bodies prohibiting their unit members in giving away their children as domestic workers is a good beginning.
Our people should be glad that the Govt of Nagaland has signed an MOU with the Govt of India to implement the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) in Nagaland. It is indeed a golden opportunity to do justice to our vulnerable children who needs care and protection. It is encouraging that our state is progressing in the right direction in addressing the issue of children in difficult situations. The JJB and CWC (under Juvenile Justice Act) has been constituted and functional in all the districts. It is hopeful that a vibrant system for child protection, care and rehabilitation be in place in the state very soon. But this can be a success only with the participation and partnership of the people from all quarters. It has been learnt that Nagaland is the second state in the country to have signed this MOU for implementation of ICPS, this is again an added responsibility/challenge and a privilege on the Govt and the People of Nagaland that we all, in partnership do justice to this noble venture and make Nagaland a Model State in ensuring ‘Safe, Protective and Quality Life for its Children”.
K. Ela
