Shillong, May 28: A two day orientation workshop for niclnbcrs of CWC, JJB, SJPU, Print & Electronic Media on Integrated Child Protectioin Scheme (ICPS) got underway today at the Don Bosco Youth Centre, Shiilorg where the Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, Mr. P W lngty was the Chief Gucst.
Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is a newly launched Centrally-sponsored scheme in collaboration with the State Government and Civil Society which aims to provide safe and secure environment for children and to set up a mechanism to strengthen child welfaresystem.
The objective of the scheme is to build capacity and to coordinate a net work betweengovernment and on government organizations to identify and assist, in whatever the case maybe, for the welfare of the child.
In his inaugural speech, Mr. Ingty said that under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Proteclion of C’hildren) Amendment Act, 2006, it is mandatory to set up a mechanism like theChild Welfare committes (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) and Special Juvenile PoliceJustice (SJPIJ) and these units have been set up in the seven districts of Meghalaya with more tocome up in the new districts.
He highlighted on the role and responsibilities of these units where he informed that the CWC is the competent authority to safeguard and promote functionalFacilities and safe environments for children, it disposes of cases for the care, protection,Treatment, development and rehabilitation of children in need or care and protection and provides legal and counseling support. The function of the JJB, he informed to conduct inquiries and be child friendly.
With regard to SJPIJ, Mr. Ingty said that the police unit is the first to come in
contact with children in trouble and therefore it is important for them to be sensitized.’Media is the powerful tool which makes immediate impact on society,’ said Mr. Ingty while stressing on the role the media can play in sensitizing the public on the rights and
Privileges of children. He lamented on the fact that the media is flashing pictures of children who are victims of sexual abuse without realizing the psychological impact that these pictures have on the victims’ lives and their families. Therefore there is a need to sensitize journalists so that they can utilize the media to its fullest potential to control and eradicate children rights violations.
The Assistant Director, Social Welfare, C N Marak, in her speech, said that the orientation prograrnrne is to build capacity and sensitize machineries in coordination with departnlents and civil society. She said that the successhl iniplementation of ICPS can be possible with the acthe participation of main stakeholders which will strengthen their services towards children’s’ welfare.
Dr. S Bank, Assistant Director, National Institute of Public Cooperation and ChildDevelopment (NIPCCD), Guwahati, who is also the resource person in the progranme, said that in resent times, Meghalaya has witnessed many child rights violation. She said that the lectures on the role and responsibilities of CWCs, JBBs, SJPU and the Media will further enhance their knowledge on the issue and will strengthen their capacity in their strive to contain and eliminatesuch violations.(SP News)
