Port Blair, Jan 12: The A&N UT Commission for Protection Of Child Rights under the leadership of the officiating Chairperson, Smt. Kiran Tigga conducted a stakeholders meet in the conference hall of Diglipur guest house which was attended by the Assistant Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Pramukh along with the school SMC Heads, PRI Members, representatives from Health, Police and Social Welfare departments. The Member of the Commission, Mrs Rubina Siddiqui welcomed the gathering and informed them about the mandate of the Commission which was monitoring the implementation of various provisions under Right to Education Act (RTE ACT), Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO besides taking suo moto cognizance of the cases involving rights of the children and also on the outcome/findings of the School inspections conducted by the Commission in the area. The other Member of the Commission Mrs R. Geetha Raj conducted a session related to Anganwadi Centers. The Officiating Chairperson, Mrs Kiran Tigga while addressing the stakeholders highlighted on the increase in cases related to POCSO and emphasized on creating awareness amongst all members of the society to protect the future generation. She stressed upon the importance of value education in schools and encouraged all school heads/incharges present to improve student teacher relationship and also briefed the gathering on the concept of child friendly village and to start the project on pilot basis by adopting a few villages in the initial stages. The Stakeholders were presented with the dossier of the Commission.
The Assistant Commissioner Shri Awanish Kumar thanked the UTCPCR for conducting the stakeholders meet and highlighting pressing issues related to children of the area. He also stressed upon the importance of involving children in positive engagements. The issues which surfaced during the discussions were increase in substance abuse amongst students, problem in mid day meals, increase in the usage of mobile phones amongst children and increase in POCSO cases. Necessary recommendations will be made to concerned departments. The Commission also visited the remote areas of (Diglipur) area.
The Officiating Chairperson, Mrs Kiran Tigga along with Members, inspected Subashgram Sr. Sec. School, Diglipur Sr. Sec. School, Sita Nagar Middle School etc., Health Centres and Anganwadis. The team also visited Ramnagar village which has been adopted under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna and inspected the facilities related to children. In Schools and Health areas many lacunas were found. Although facilities are present gaps still remain resulting in shortcomings in the delivery of the desired results to the children and the authorities were instructed to take note of it.
