Safeguarding child rights is one of the biggest challenges for the nation as incidences of child abuse or exploitation is reportedly increasing day by day from every nook and corner of the country.

Those who are working in child protection experience greater challenge every day to tackle this social evil.

Despite various strong legislations carved out for the protection of the child rights, the situation is still not under control.

Anugyalaya Darjeeling Diocesan Social Service Society (ADDSSS) organised an orientation cum capacity building workshop on child rights and protection for the newly formed Block Level Children’s Committee which is officially known as Alliance of Children’s Club, Gorubathan formed under Caritas India programme ‘Bal Adhikar, Mero Jemmewar’ (Child Rights, My Responsibility). Children’s Committee and Vigilance Committee members were also called for this workshop.

Sudeep Jerome Bomzon, Programme Manager of ADDSSS oriented children on UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Being the base for all national and international laws related to children, it has four basic rights of children viz right to survival, right to development, right to protection and right to participation. He explained all the rights with relevant examples.

He shared that after the ratification of UNCRC laws by India, Government has introduced various welfare schemes like Integrated Child Development Services, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Integrated Child Protection Scheme etc. He said, Right to Education Act, the main act of education was also possible due to the Government’s commitment to upholding the right of the children according to UNCRC.

To take the opinion of Children’s Club and Vigilance Committee Members they were divided into groups and asked to give their suggestion on how Children’s Committee can contribute to bringing positive change in a village?

Strikingly, the one group shared that polygamy is practiced in the community should be discouraged. They also have shown interest to support poor students with books and stationery. The group also expressed to help young children to learn decision making.

The other group selected environment protection and work to eradicate social evils prevalent in the society like gender discrimination, child labour, and child marriage.

Interestingly, other groups also shared to work towards peace and harmony, making Government machinery accountable for civil work, education support, water issue and health support.

Child Protection Officer Tej Kumar Thapa re-oriented children on Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) which is an apex law related to children. He shared that under the law only two special statutory bodies called Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) were formed. The composition and role of each statutory body were shared along with the contact details of CWC and JJB with the children.

Sudeep Bomzon explained some of the basic features of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO). He shared the three categories of crimes described under POCSO as direct touching, in direct touching and the verbal. Elaborating further, he said the word ‘rape’ is not included in the law which means verbal and indirect touching is also regarded as abuse/rape. Unlike other civil and criminal laws the ‘burden of proof’ is not on the children rather it’s upon the culprit who has to prove that he/she didn’t commit the crime against children. Likewise, there are categories of punishment and fine for the level of crime committed as per POCSO.

He also oriented children about the responsibility of the committee mainly advocacy with the government departments first at block then if necessary at sub-division and district level. One such example where the alliance can advocate was for the establishment of a Paediatric Ward in Gorubathan with the child specialist.

He also informed about the exposure visit arranged for the alliance children to Kalimpong where they can meet District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and Child-friendly police station of Kalimpong followed by the visit to any of the shelter home.

Tej also informed the group about ‘Nine is Mine Campaign’ which run across the nation which allows children to have a direct conversation with the political leaders in India and the diplomatic missions in and around the world for their rights. He said this time Nine is Mine has been invited as one of the resource people by the organizing committee which is scheduled to be held at Kolkata.

All the elected members were felicitated with Traditional scarf ‘Khadawas’ as a token of appreciation and recognition by the Vigilance Committee members at the end.