The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had received complaints on several cases of violation of child rights, including the Right to Education (RTE). In its mechanism of redressal of grievances, the Commission organized a public hearing on child labour and other issues of child rights at Varanasi on December 17, 2011 which was the first-of-its-kind in Uttar Pradesh.

Thirty six cases from five districts, including Varanasi, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Maharajganj, selected through Shambhunath Singh Research Foundation (SRF) , an NGO working in close coordination with NCPCR in the area were heard by a panel of jury of NCPCR . Some of the issues that came up during the public hearing were those of child labour, child trafficking, malnutrition, denial of birth registration and immunization, absence of ICDS centers and improper functioning of the Anganwadis.

For each of the cases, the jury ordered swift and targeted action, set a timeline for the authority in question to follow and also asked the authority to send in a report of its progress to the Commission. The Commission would constantly monitor the progress and action taken in each of these cases.

“Free and compulsory education and total abolition of child labour are central to human development and fundamental for enhanced citizenship. There has to be a zero tolerance of children being out of school and child labour laws and policies have to be in sync with the Right to Education Act 2009,” said Dr. Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, NCPCR.

The Commission conducts public hearings across the country as a tool for monitoring and implementation of child rights. It has already conducted public hearing in eight states so far. Every month, a new state is added in its calendar of public hearings.

KKP/bs

Source: –  http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=78892