‘Safety and protection of children needs to start from homes,’ says Kohima DC

June 24, 2023 27 Views No Comment

Morung Express news
Kohima | June 24

Kohima Deputy commissioner, Shanavas C, IAS, today asserted that safety and protection of children needs to start from our homes where everyone play part in the mechanism where the parents, teachers or adults should ensure that the welfare of children is looked after.

He was speaking at the one-day sensitization cum consultation workshop on handling Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) cases for Public Prosecutors and child welfare police officers in North East Region at SIRD Conference Hall, Kohima.

Speaking of some causes of concern in this area, the DC said that our people only react after an incident take place.
He therefore said, ‘we must inculcate knowledge to children on differentiating between right and wrong and provide the right approach from the schools by the teachers and the authorities where children spend about half of the day.’

Adding that stigma continues to be an evil in the society, the subjects like sexual exploitation, child sexual offences, menstrual hygiene, sexual reproduction are often ignored hushed. These stigma needs to be broken.

Shanavas pointed out that some case of sexual offence occur at home by family members which often gets silenced because of the fear and reluctance of parents to go forward legally. In this regard, Shanavas said that parents instead are first responders.

The DC also urged the parents and teachers to be aware of the surroundings of the children at the same time teach the children to respect and appreciate the opposite gender and stated that ‘every child is precious’ and stressed that these children are the next generation people.

Welcome address was delivered by Member, Nagaland State Commission For protection of Child Rights, Akumla Longchari. In her address she stated that children constitutes about 40% of the country population and their safety need to be given utmost priority, because children are vulnerable to sexual offences.

Divison Head, Child Labour &Children in Distress, NCPCR, Payal Sharma stressed that the NE cell was dedicated to hold training sessions for prevention of children from harassment and at the same time provide justice.

Chairman, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Nagaland, Alun Hangsing said the state government was committed to strengthen child rights and highlighted the need to ensure a vibrant future for children by creating a conducive atmosphere for them to live in.

The program was organised by National commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with Nagaland State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NSCPCR).

The day long programme saw presentation on Legal processes of POCSO, Role of child welfare committee, key challenges in holding POCSO cases, age determination of children with case studies among others.