MARGAO
The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (Goa SCPCR) has called for giving platforms for children to influence the village development process
At a joint Review Meeting on Status of Village/Municipal Child Protection Committees, SCPCR Chairperson Peter F. Borges focused on strengthening child protection system at urban and village bodies.
The meeting was attended by Block Development Officers of all talukas and Chief Officer of Municipal Councils and Commissioner of Corporation of City of Panaji, besides Members of GSCPCR, Director of Women and Child Development and Child Welfare Committee
A host of recommendations have been issued for strict compliance in the interest of children, including constitution and notification of the Child Committees within 15 days and submit the report to the Commission, following which Commission will engage with the bodies for need assessment and formulation of annual action plan.
It was also recommended to issue special order to every panchayat to organize Bal Sabhas for children in the age group of 11-18 years on Panchayati Raj Divas (April 24, 2023), presided by a sarpanch to discuss issues concerning them, hear their opinions and take necessary decisions.
While asserting that Bal sabhas should be made compulsory every six months, the Commission has recommended that concerns like child abuse, menace of drugs, child exploitation, child labour, education, health, girls’ safety, improved mid-day meal scheme, access to government schemes, sanitation and hygiene need to be discussed to ensure children’s participation in the decision-making process and creating child friendly atmosphere in villages for their growth.
It has been further recommended to direct panchayats and councils to have a separate budget to give thrust to their comprehensive development plan for children with inputs from the children and to further direct the Municipal Councils to have two special meetings every year of the Child Committees on the lines of Bal Sabhas.
In his opening remarks, the Chairperson said there is a need to bring about strong child protection at grassroot level amidst surge in crimes against children in Goa. “We must strengthen community- led child protection and ensure safe childhoods for our children. Children’s participation is important and help the gram panchayats work for protection of child rights and address their issues through participatory planning and proper budgeting”, he added.
Borges further said that he formation of child committees is an important step towards highlighting and finding solutions to the issues of children at the local level. Children are individuals in their own right. “They may not have the life experiences of adults, but they have their own experience, and they need to enter decision-making processes with their own set of experiences. Children have a right to participate in all decisions that concern their lives and given the opportunity, they can be capable decision-makers”, he added.
