On June 15th, 2024, the Women and Child Department announced in the newspapers the vacancy for the position of a chairperson and members for the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Goa. It is now commemorating the first year of inaction on that announcement. The Minister must be preoccupied with all else but the safety and protection of vulnerable children. In that process, he has rendered the Commission of Child Rights in Goa devoid of a Head. Obviously, Mr Vishwajit Rane sees no political advantage in achieving the stated goal—his own—of getting this Commission moving.
There are two CWCs (Child Welfare Committee) – one in the North and another in the South. Both these bodies have multiple limitations and, yet, have achieved far beyond their means. I am not sure the Minister has even met members of these Committees even once in the last nearly four years. He probably figures that children are not voters and they don’t matter to him or other politicians. Or else they would be jumping up and down demanding quick action. The absence of social consciousness is appalling.
Children are the future. In Goa, these committees handle a hundred cases monthly, mostly from disadvantaged groups. The staff work with minimal support. Only recently has a new Director brought clarity and support. The problem is Ministers avoid subjects lacking populist appeal. Cabinet divisions make priority-setting meaningless. Governance has declined, and bold announcements don’t translate into action.
The Commission’s duties include investigating child rights violations, reviewing safeguards, raising awareness, and inspecting child-related institutions. Its role in creating a protective environment is vital. The Cabinet must act. The CM must direct Mr Rane to treat this seriously. The Minister didn’t even reappoint members after the previous term ended. Why the apathy? The public must challenge the government’s governance claims. If TCP and Health can get attention, why not children? Let the Minister hand over responsibility to those who can act. Policy planners must prioritise social justice and children’s well-being.
