Politics

Smriti Irani calls on Child Welfare Committees to implement Juvenile Justice rules

In order to enhance functional knowledge, and improve relevant skills, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) launched the “Training Modules for the Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Protocols for Restoration and Repatriation of Children” along with the GHAR – GO Home and Re-Unite (Portal for Restoration and Repatriation of Child) on the occasion of World Children’s Day (20th November).

Purpose of the Training Module

The training modules are expected to help in implementing the amendments brought in the Juvenile Justice Act. The purpose of the Training Module for Chairpersons and Members of Child Welfare Committees is to consolidate all of the duties and obligations of CWCs in one place.

CWCs have considerable responsibility for guaranteeing the care and protection of vulnerable children because they are the district-level guardians of those kids. The Module is a 15-day training course for CWCs. It is broken up into 63 sessions, each lasting more than 72 hours. The participants would need to commit on average 4 hours 50 minutes per day to the training.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani commended the NCPCR for organising the first-ever national-level launch event for child protection in a video message. Child welfare groups, according to her, are essential in promoting children’s rights.

Reiterating the government’s commitment towards child protection, Smriti Irani appealed to all CWCs and DCPOs to exhibit their best to implement the amendment of the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act) and Rules, 2021 & 2022 for child protection across the nation. Further, she appreciated the endeavor of the NCPCR in formulating the Protocols and Training Modules. The Minister also emphasized that society must be united for the protection of children.

Union Minister Smriti Irani emphasized the government’s dedication to protecting children and made a plea to all CWCs and DCPOs to put forth their best efforts in implementing the revision of the JJ Act and Rules, 2021 and 2022, for child protection across the country. Additionally, she was appreciative of the NCPCR’s efforts in creating the Protocols and Training Modules. In order to protect children, society must come together, the minister added.

While speaking about the importance of training, Indevar Pandey, Secretary, the Ministry of Women and Child Development emphasized that the training will bring uniformity in the implementation of the protocols though out the country.

Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson, NCPCR, during his address said that “the theme for the World Child Rights Day is “Inclusion of Children” and children must be included in the education, brought into the mainstream of society and given opportunity for their overall development”. Children constitute 40% of our population but they are the 100% in terms of making the future of our nation, he added.

Kanoongo noted that the protocols for repatriation and restoration that are being launched today, along with the GHAR portal, will guarantee that children’s rights connected to restoration and repatriation are realised. In addition to the requirements of the UNCRC, he claimed that the government has developed a number of rules and regulations pertaining to children’s rights, and we intend to continue this legacy in the children’s best interests.

Following are the features of OF GHAR – GO Home and Re-Unite (Designated portal of NCPCR):

i. Digital tracking and monitoring of children who are in the JJ system and have to be repatriated to another Country/State/District.

ii. Digital transfer of cases of children to the concerned JJB/CWC of the State. It will help in the speedy repatriation of children.

iii. Where there is a requirement for a translator/interpreter/expert, a request will be made to the concerned State Government.

iv. CWCs and DCPOs can ensure proper restoration and rehabilitation of children by digitally monitoring the progress of the case of the child.

v. A checklist format will be provided in the forms so that the children who are being hard to repatriate or children who are not getting their entitled compensation or other monetary benefits can be identified.

vi. List of Government implemented schemes will be provided so that at the time of restoration the CWCs can link the child with the schemes to strengthen the family and ensure that child remains with his/her family.

 

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