Children: Nation’s wealth
Many advanced countries of Western Europe are facing great dilemma. The number of children being born is becoming lesser to the extent that the population is gradually depleting. Negative growth, since number of death of the old, the aged and the sick is more than the number of children born, has had a great impact on the demographic structure. Shortage of manpower is compensated by migrants from North African countries mostly. Hence, women are being incentivised to bear more children. Meanwhile, fathers can also enjoy paid paternity leave for a few months, not to mention about mothers.
The quality of future citizens depends on the upbringing of the children. Progress of a nation, therefore, is directly linked to the development and proper care of children. If we invest in them by taking good care of them and lead them in the right direction, no doubt they will bloom and shine in the later years. How often do we take time to pause and think whether we have accorded the right opportunities to our children? Can we just shrug our shoulders and then forget after that? One has simply to look around to witness the negligence of the present generation towards those tender and innocent kids. If this attitude continues unabated then what kind of future do we expect?
We take great pride of the ancient Indian civilization with its rich glorious tradition. It has produced a great woman leader in the person of Indira Gandhi. Yet, the same country has secretly allowed female infanticide to take place all along. The skewed sex ratio, which is not in favour of girls, amongst many states of our great country is a matter of great shame. The former Vice-President of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, quoting from reports of National Human Rights Commission, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), lamented at the alarming picture of millions of missing children, especially girls. Children have been exploited and, in spite of stringent laws, continue to be so though discreetly. Shekhawat stressed on girls’ education.
In modern India, though many laws have been initiated to foster and to promote children, still they are handicapped in many ways. Some of the main problems which these tender and vulnerable segments of population face are the following:
Parents and guardians do not send young kids to school. Instead, they are exploited by making them work, sometimes at great risk to their health.
The innocent children are to undergo sexual harassment and child prostitution.
Due to poverty and negligence, children suffer from malnutrition. Sometimes, they suffer ill-treatment and torture for a slight fault.
Girls are the worst suffers, be it in food distribution, health facility, education opportunity, etc.
Article 45 of the Constitution of India, substituted by the Constitution (Eighty Sixth Amendment) Act, 2000, says that the State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of the Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of 14 years. The provision has been extended from time to time and it still continues. The next one, namely, Article 46 which is a follow-up specially relates to the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Even after six decades, the children continue to be deprived of their basic rights.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was initiated to provide useful and relevant elementary education for all children in the age group 6 – 14 by 2010. The main objective was to accord facilities to young children to acquire knowledge so that they will become worthy citizens of the country. Midday Meal Scheme (MMS) was introduced to retain children in school. For the success of the scheme and for the good of the future, therefore, not only Central and State Government authorities, but also Panchayati Raj, Autonomous District Councils, Managing Committees of Schools, Parents’ Organisation, NGOs, etc. are to lend their full support.
In order to show its great concern at the plight of children who have been at the receiving end with none of the elders batting an eyelid, Government of India set up the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on March 5, 2007. It is a statutory body to protect, promote and defend child Rights in the country. Formation of NCPCR is headed by a Chairperson and six Members. These Members are the experts in the field of child health, education, child care and development, juvenile, justice, differently able children, elimination of child labour, child psychology or sociology and laws relating to children.
The Commission has been given a wide and varied mandate covering all aspects of children (age 0 – 18 years). It would look into all matters relating to children in a holistic manner. The rights to be enjoyed by children but which are affected because of terrorism, communal violence, riots, natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, mal-treatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and prostitution, etc. are to be studied by the Commission. Besides, it will also handle children who are in conflict with the law, juvenile delinquents, and children of poor and marginalized segments of the society, orphans and street children, and children of prisoners. After studying and observing all the intricacies which have their impact on the growth and development of children, a full report will be submitted to the Central Government on an annual basis or periodically depending upon the necessity as decided by the Commission itself.
Over and above, he NCPCR can study treaties and other international papers which are relevant to the children’s rights. The policies and allied topics concerning privileges of children which are practiced in different countries, especially advanced nations, can be endorsed along with recommendation to be undertaken for final submission to the Ministry.
The powers of the Commission are explicitly defined, whereby it can inspect and summon any one for questioning. Wrong doers will be called by the Magistrate, on the advice of the Commission, under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973. If need be, the Commission is empowered to approach the High Court or the Supreme Court. Victims or the members of the family are entitled to financial assistance or grant on the advice of the Commission.
Earlier the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act covered only children working in factories, and mines. Under the law, children below the age of 14 years are banned to be employed in these hazardous occupations which are detrimental to their health and well-being. Recently, the Act has been amended by the Centre. It now includes child domestic work as occupational hazard. As per the amendment, action can be taken against those who employ children below age 14 in domestic labour, which includes homes, hotels, motels, tea shops, resorts or any other recreational centre.
Child Marriage is a social evil which robs children of their childhood and retards their holistic development. In order to provide more teeth to the Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929, the Government of India has brought forth the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 to be looked after by the Ministry of Women and Child Development with effect from February 18, 2006. Under the Act, all those who actively abet in the solemnization child marriages face punishment. As per law, minimum age limit for marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. To implement the Act, State Governments are required to appoint Child Marriage Prohibition Officers to frame Rules.
Regarding upholding and safeguarding the rights and privileges of children, the Acts introduced by the Central Government are highly appreciated. The hitch, however, lies in implementation. It seems that, in spite of rehabilitation plan envisaged by the Centre, State Governments are not implementing them properly. The matter is very serious indeed. Hence, both should meet and act cohesively in future.
Suggestion: The works done by the State-sponsored Meghalaya State Women’s Commission (MSWC) and an NGO Meghalaya Civil Society Women’s Organisation (MSCWO) are commenda-ble and worthy of appreciation when it concerns atrocities again women. Children are also the most vulnerable segment of the population whose cries are being suppressed and, therefore, unheard of. All along they borned the pain and suffering silently. Many of these unfortunate children have lost their childhood and are placed in an awkward position. Instead of becoming law-abiding citizens, they are turned down by the society to live in the gutters and thus become criminals.
Meghalaya should wake up from its lethargy and become practical in its dealing with children, by taking good advantage of the Central Schemes.
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