Daily Archives: July 6, 2009

Rights panel calls for overhaul of child labour laws

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Rights panel calls for overhaul of child labour laws
Terming the existing law to abolish child labour as “faulty”, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has called for comprehensive legislation and a national policy to ensure that all children under the age of 18 years have a right to education. The commission has recommended stern legal provisions and penalties to prohibit all forms of child labour.
These recommendations are part of a report on abolition of child labour prepared by the child rights commission. One of the foremost recommendations is to re-define “child” and “child labour” to include all children up to 18 years of age and to include all forms of work that children are engaged in. The commission, headed by chairperson Shanta Sinha, has also suggested that the national policy must focus not just on rescue of child labourers but also on rehabilitation in mainstream schools.  (Times of India)

Terming the existing law to abolish child labour as “faulty”, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has called for comprehensive legislation and a national policy to ensure that all children under the age of 18 years have a right to education. The commission has recommended stern legal provisions and penalties to prohibit all forms of child labour. Continue reading →

State Commission for Protection of Child Rights set up

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State Commission for Protection of Child Rights set up
BANGALORE: Karnataka has set up its first State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) on the lines of the national commission.
“The new commission will function as a watchdog to protect children’s rights,” women and child development minister P M Narendra Swamy said on Thursday.
Child rights activist Neena P Naik has been appointed chairperson under the Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. Other members are Mamatha M R, S V Vasudev Sharma, Niranjan Aradhya, Poornima M R, Madhu and director of Saathi, an NGO.
According to Swamy, the commission will seek to ensure speedy trial of affected children, and it will be done in fast-track child courts. The panel will have statutory powers to take suo-motu action and summon anybody for hearing, including government authorities.
The commission can also recommend legal action after investigating the case and hold review meetings with all department heads, who are directly or indirectly linked with children.

Karnataka has set up its first State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) on the lines of the national commission.

“The new commission will function as a watchdog to protect children’s rights,” women and child development minister P M Narendra Swamy said on Thursday. Continue reading →

Rights talk in CBSE schools

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Rights talk in CBSE schools
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), acting on a suggestion from Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has written to heads of all schools affiliated to CBSE to include child rights issues in the curriculum.
The board has taken this step to curb increasing violence against children in schools. A member of the rights body, M.M. Vidyarthi, told The Telegraph that they were trying to alert the schools about this growing menace even in small cities.
Surendranath Centenary School principal Samita Sinha said that they were going to empower schoolchildren through group discussions.
“We are going to organise seminars and debate on child right issues to make our students aware,” said the principal, looking forward to including child right issues in the curriculum along with other principals. (The Telegraph, Calcutta)

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), acting on a suggestion from Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has written to heads of all schools affiliated to CBSE to include child rights issues in the curriculum.

The board has taken this step to curb increasing violence against children in schools. A member of the rights body, M.M. Vidyarthi, told The Telegraph that they were trying to alert the schools about this growing menace even in small cities. Continue reading →

Bengal DIG employs 8-yr-old help, beats her up

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Bengal DIG employs 8-yr-old help, beats her up
In what is a shocking case of child abuse in West Bengal, a DIG has been booked for torturing an eight-year-old girl employed at his home.
The eight-year-old came to a police station to lodge an FIR against Planning and Welfare of West Bengal Police Basudeb Bag, for torturing her physically. She has been working as a domestic help in his house for the last two years.
The minor girl was allegedly beaten up by Bag and has suffered a head injury. She says she was tortured whenever she committed a mistake.
“Whenever I made misteke, he used to beat me up. He has beaten me several times,” says the girl.
One of Bag’s neighbours, Alpana Singh adds, “I saw the girl crying and she was bleeding at her head. I then attracted the attention of others and went to the DIG’s house. However, the people of the house started abusing us.”
Police initially refused to take the complaint but after the intervention of a local MP, A Bandopadhay, a case has been registered. The charges are of assault and torture of the young girl. Also questions are being asked as to how an IPS officer employed a minor as his domestic help.
Bandopadhay, who is an MP from Howrah, says, “First of all she is a minor and using her as domestic help is illegal. Also, being at such a responsible post, how can the DIG employ and then torture her?”
The case is under investigation now. (CNN – IBN)

In what is a shocking case of child abuse in West Bengal, a DIG has been booked for torturing an eight-year-old girl employed at his home.

The eight-year-old came to a police station to lodge an FIR against Planning and Welfare of West Bengal Police Basudeb Bag, for torturing her physically. She has been working as a domestic help in his house for the last two years. Continue reading →