Strong synergy is required among network members to address the issue of human trafficking and become proactive for timely assistance to victims expressed stakeholders in a State Level Multistakeholder Consultation Meet hosted by Caritas India Surokhit Shaishav-Promoting safe childhood Programme at Guwahati on 30th May 2023.

Stakeholders also gave some additional suggestions including strengthening and rejuvenating the existing network members, core group formation for collective action, and drafting a roadmap/action plan for effective network conglomeration.

Surokhit Shaishav convened the one-day meeting to strengthen the network and address issues of child protection especially – child labour, child marriage, and child trafficking. It was attended by Twenty Guwahati-based NGOs/CSOs and concerned departments. Altogether, 31 members participated and contributed during the meeting.
Mr.Sailo Aimol, UNICEF Child Protection Officer spoke on the “Emerging Issues and Concerns on Child Protection and Need for Collective Response of NGOs and GOs”. He suggested having collective efforts for children’s development, as safety begins at home and the family is one key base. He shared some pragmatic suggestions to strengthen families by first bringing children back to school and linking with different schemes/sponsorship, ensuring alternative Care Programmes to foster care through an inclusive approach for social behavioural change.

Dr. Meghali Senapati, from Tata Institute Social Sciences (TISS) Guwahati Campus, expressed her views on the need for counselling support for children and adolescents’ health and wellbeing. She mentioned the WHO definition of health as a “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” which highlights the connections between mental, physical and social health. Mental, physical, and social health are essential to life and are interlinked and interdependent. She was willing to be part of and assist when it comes to psycho-social support.

Glimpses of Assam, Child Budget 2020- 2023 was presented by Rev. Fr Dr Walter Fernandes Director of the Northeast Social Research Centre. He put forward his views on gender disparity, constraints to girl child education, and possible solutions.

He emphasized the need for awareness of existing schemes to parents, teachers, and the community, advocacy on restoring schemes that retain children in school – Mid Day Meal (MDM) and Integrating child development Scheme (ICDS).

Mr. Savio Lakra, Programme Manager – Training IEC & Advocacy- State Child Protection Society Assam, Government of Assam, elaborated on the merger of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme to ‘Mission Vatsalya’. Explaining the commitment of the government to strengthen the existing child protection committee, at various level – Village, Block, District, Ward, and Municipality. He called for a joint effort for identifying and addressing the root cause and proposed the formation of children’s clubs and children’s parliaments to recognize their voices and opinions.

The multistakeholder meeting was attended by the representative of Assam State Child Protection Society, UNICEF, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Guwahati Campus, Childaid Network Germany, Save The Children, Northeast Social Research Centre, Northeast Educational Trust, Human Rights Law Networks (HRLN) Northeast Social Communication, Shishu Sarothi, , Northeast Diocesan Social Service Society, Rainbow Home of Seven Sisters, Seva Kendra Silchar, Centre for Development Initiatives, Bosco Reach Out, Seven Sisters Home, Snehalaya, Fransalian Agency for Social Care and Education in India (FAsCE India), and Women Development Centre.