News Analysis India

Tag: NCPCR

  • Dalit girl death: NCPCR asks Twitter to take action on Rahul Gandhi posting photo of victim’s family

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Child rights body NCPCR on Wednesday asked Twitter to take action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s handle for sharing on the platform a photo of the family of a Dalit girl allegedly raped and killed in Delhi, saying it violates the Juvenile Justice and POCSO Acts.

    Gandhi on Wednesday met the family of the nine-year-old girl and asserted that he is with them on the path to justice and “will not back down even an inch”.

    Later, he posted a picture of his meeting with the girl’s parents on Twitter and wrote in Hindi, “Parents’ tears are saying only one thing — their daughter, the daughter of this country, deserves justice. And I am with them on this path to justice.”

    The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights sent a letter to the resident grievance officer of Twitter, saying it received a complaint that a photo of the victim’s family has been posted on the Twitter handle @Rahul Gandhi with the caption stating that they are the father and the mother of the child.

    “In the said photo, the faces of the victim’s father and mother can be seen which thereby reveals the identity of the girl,” the apex child rights body said.

    ALSO READ | NCPCR seeks action taken report from police in ‘rape and murder’ of Dalit girl in Delhi’s Nangal

    “Therefore, posting of the photo of the minor victim’s family on the said Twitter handle has been observed by the commission to be a violation of Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, Section 23 of the POCSO Act, 2012, Section 228A of the IPC and the guidelines of the Hon’ble court as well,” it said.

    Accordingly, the complaint is being forwarded for appropriate action against the Twitter handle and removal of the tweet from the platform, it said.

    The NCPCR requested that an action-taken report in the matter may be sent to the Commission within three days.

    The move comes shortly after BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra accused Gandhi of violating the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and another law dealing with juveniles by tweeting a picture of the girl’s parents as disclosing any aspect of a rape victim’s identity is an offence.

    Patra urged the NCPCR to take cognisance of the matter and issue notice to the Congress leader.

    Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, prohibits disclosure of the identity of children while Section 23 of the POCSO Act, 2012, lays out the procedure for media coverage of such cases and Section 228 of the IPC prohibits publishing the identity of sexual assault and rape victim.

    The girl died under mysterious circumstances when she went to get water from a cooler at a crematorium Old Nangal area in southwest Delhi.

    The girl’s parents alleged that she was raped and her body was forcibly cremated by a crematorium priest who had falsely claimed that she was electrocuted.

    Hundreds of locals, including the victim’s parents, have been staging a protest near the site of the incident, demanding capital punishment for the convicts.

    Police had on Monday said that based on the statement of the victim’s mother, rape charges have been added in the FIR.

    Four people, including the priest, have been arrested.

    The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has launched an inquiry into the incident.

  • No info on increase in child abuse cases due to Covid lockdowns: Union government 

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government Thursday said it has no information as on date regarding data on increase in cases of child abuse due to the Covid-related lockdown situations and data on the increase in child marriage cases across the country due to financial difficulties caused due to coronavirus.

    In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said her ministry has issued advisories and guidelines to state governments and union territory administrations for care and protection of children during the pandemic.

    “As per information provided by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there is no information as on date regarding data on increase in cases of child abuse due to the COVID-19 related lockdown situations and data on the increase in child marriage cases across the country due to financial difficulties caused due to COVID,” she said.

    Responding to another question, Irani gave data on the number of complaints received and disposed of by NCPCR during the last five years.

    According to the data, in the last five years from 2016-17 to 2020-21 the National Commission for Protection of Children received 50,857 complaints out of which 20,836 have been disposed of.

    Among states, highest number of complaints have been received from Madhya Pradesh at 9,572 followed by Uttar Pradesh at 5,340, Chhattisgarh at 4,685 and Odisha at 4,276.

  • Provide data on kids who lost at least one parent to Covid: NCPCR to states 

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Country’s apex child rights’ body has asked states to share data related to all the kids who have lost both or one parent in the ongoing second wave of the Covid pandemic in India, on its Bal Swaraj portal, in order to carry out their real time monitoring.

    As per the data compiled by the Union Women and Child Development Ministry, there are 577 kids in the country who have lost both parents to the infectious disease while there is no figure available of the children who lost at least one parent to Covid. 

    “This mechanism had not been put in place last year during the first Covid wave but the impact of the second wave on the kids has been far more severe,” Priyank Kanoongo, chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said.

    “We therefore want the states, as directed by the Supreme Court too, to share the required data urgently so that the well being and education of the kids can be taken care of,” he said, adding that the state commissions can also pay random visits to check on the condition of these children. 

    ALSO READ | ‘Can’t imagine how many children orphaned by Covid’: SC directs states to identify, help them

    Kanoongo explained that in most instances, the orphaned children in need of care and protection, will be restored with the willing immediate family, or can be sent to children homes or be put up at specialised adoption centres, depending on the circumstances and as recommended by the child welfare committees in districts.

    “The CWC will prepare individual plans for all 577 such kids,” the NCPCR chief also said.

    In a separate letter to the state education secretaries, the Commission also said that in case of death of one or both parents of the child enrolled in a private school, the expenditure on elementary education of such children in the same school may be borne by the government.

    The child rights’ body also said that this will apply to all categories of schools, aided, unaided as well as private school.

    “Schools with minority institution status and all residential schools shall also follow the procedure and ensure that no such child is forced to leave the school in any manner against the child’s choice due to non-payment of fees,” the letter addressed to principal education secretaries of states said. 

    For the kids above class 8, who are beyond the purview of the Right to Education act, NCPCR said that the state government should devise guidelines for the schools and make a policy for reimbursing the expenditure on education of these children.

    From the Non-Institutional Child Care Fund, the Union government had earlier released Rs 10 lakh to each district for the care of orphaned children in the pandemic.

  • NCPCR asks states/UTs to upload data of children who lost one or both parents to COVID-19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked all states and union territories (UTs) to upload data of children who have lost either one or both parents to COVID-19 on its portal.

    Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani had on Tuesday said as many as 577 children across the country were orphaned after their parents succumbed to COVID-19, citing reports of states and union territories from April 1 till March 25.

    The announcement by the apex child rights body comes a day after the Supreme Court directed all district officers across the states/UTs to fill data related to children who have lost either one of both parents to Covid within 24 hours on the Bal Swaraj portal under the ‘COVID Care’ link.

    Bal Swaraj is an online tracking portal of the NCPCR for children in need of care and protection. “Keeping in view the current situation of COVID- 19, the Commission has extended the use of this portal for tracking children who have lost both parents or either of them’ and provided a link under the name of ‘Covid Care’ on this portal for filling of data of such children by the concerned officer/department,” the NCPCR said in a letter to all principal secretaries of the states and UTs’s Women and Child Development Department.

    The NCPCR said the login ids of district child protection officers for uploading the data and filling up the forms of social investigation report and individual child care plan as provided by the commission have been issued.

    The login ids for all principal secretaries for uploading of data on the portal concerned with the state government have also been issued.

  • Over 1000 children, parents reach out to govt helpline to tackle COVID woes

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: From facing loneliness in COVID-19 isolation ward to exhibiting aggressive behaviour after parents contracted the virus, over 1,000 children and parents have reached out to government helpline seeking help.

    With an objective of providing psychological first-aid and emotional support to children affected during the pandemic, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is providing tele-counselling to children through SAMVEDNA (Sensitising Action on Mental Health Vulnerability through Emotional Development and Necessary Acceptance) – a toll-free helpline launched to provide psycho-social mental support for affected children.

    According to Women and Child Development Ministry officials, redressal of 1,009 complaints have been done between September, 2020 to May 7, 2021.

    In a case from a COVID-19 isolation centre in Aurangabad, a 15-year-old child expressed frustration over not getting enough love from parents due to more number of siblings and called up to talk about her parents’ pressure of getting her married of early.

    The counsellor spoke to the child and her parents and suggested to encourage her to focus on academics.

    In another case, parent of a six-year-old child in Kanpur called to discuss the aggressive behaviour of their child who was lodged in an isolation centre after contracting the virus.

    The counsellor suggested that the child engage in different activities like narrating stories or playing with toys.

    It was found that as the parents were keeping to themselves after the family tested positive, the child was feeling lonely and exhibiting aggressive behaviour.

    A 17-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh’s Singrauli isolation centre called up and talked about being scared of loneliness.

    The counsellor advised him to spend time engaging in activities he is interested in and making a regular routine to get away from boredom.

    This tele-counselling service is available on a toll-free number 1800-121-2830 from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 8 pm and is exclusively for children who are willing to talk and are in need of counselling.

    When a child/caretaker/parent dials SAMVEDNA, they get to speak to a professional counsellor in a safe environment.

    Tele-counselling is provided to children under three categories: children who are in quarantine/isolation/COVID care centres, children who have COVID positive parents or family members, and children who have lost their parents due to the pandemic.

    This service caters to children from all over India in various regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, the Women and Child Development Ministry said.

    This service was launched in September, 2020 and aims to support children in the difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic.

  • NCPCR writes to West Bengal chief secy, demands probe into post-poll violence affecting children

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the chief secretary of West Bengal raising concerns over post-poll violence in the state affecting children and sought an inquiry into the matter after it received a complaint regarding the same.

    West Bengal was in the throes of widespread violence on Monday that allegedly left several BJP workers dead and injured in clashes, and shops being looted, prompting the Centre to seek a factual report from the state government on the incidents of attack on opposition workers.

    The commission said that it had come across several media reports regarding the death of some people in the post-poll violence in West Bengal on May 3.

    “Since the conclusion of election polls in the state of West Bengal on May 2, there are many incidents of violence being reported across the state which has made the people vulnerable and at imminent risk of danger and harm, especially children,” Chairperson, NCPCR, Priyank Kanungo said in the letter.

    “In relation to these incidents of violence, the Commission has received a complaint concerning the safety and security of children in the state in these present incidents of violence. The complainant has stated that during this widespread attack against the people in the state, the children are being targeted and are being subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment,” Kanungo said.

    It also said that the complainant has claimed that many children have been recruited to participate in the incidents of violence.

    The commission attached a copy of the complaint with the letter.

    “In view of the serious nature of incidents being reported in the state posing a threat to the safety of the children and their rights and the averments made in the complaint, the commission deems it appropriate to take cognizance under Section 13(1)(j) of the CPCR Act, 2005 in this matter,” the letter said.

    “Accordingly, the commission requests that an inquiry into these incidents of violence happening in the state must be conducted by your good offices with regard to the safety and well-being of children in this grave situation,” it added.

    The NCPCR said section 83(2) of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 provides for punitive punishment for using children for illegal activities and requested that an inquiry must also be conducted with regard to children being made to participate in the violence.

    It also said that an action taken report of the inquiry along with information about the steps taken by the government be provided to the NCPCR within seven days.

    Earlier, the National Commission for Women as well as the National Human Right Commission demanded enquiries into the violence and also stated that they will send fact finding teams to the state.

  • NCPCR urges states to share information on children orphaned due to COVID-19

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to states and union territories on Monday, urging them to inform child protection authorities about children who have lost both parents due to COVID-19.

    “The commission has been made aware of instances where it has been seen that many NGOs are advertising about the children who have become orphan after losing both their parents to COVID-19,” NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said in the letter addressed to chief secretaries.

    “In such a sad situation of surge in COVID-19 cases in the country there are situations arising where the child has lost both its parents or is found to be abandoned.

    It may be noted that the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provides for the procedure to be followed for children who have lost their family support and have become child in need of care and protection,” it said.

    The procedure under the JJ Act, 2015 ensures that children are provided all the minimum standards of care and their rights are upheld and protected, Kanoongo said.

    “Therefore, it is of utmost importance that these children who have lost their family support must be produced before the child protection authorities of the district, and information about these children must be shared with the authorities,” he wrote.

    These children who have lost family support due to COVID-19 or have been abandoned due to the loss of parents to the disease are in need of care and protection as per the JJ Act, 2015, and such children must be produced before the Child Welfare Committee as per section 31 of the Act, the commission said.

    It also pointed out that it was necessary for every individual, entity, organisation or NGO to ensure that any information received about orphaned and abandoned children during these COVID times is shared on the helpine 1098.

    “Similarly, it is further requested that if any such information for an abandoned or orphaned children is received by any entity, organisation, NGO then the same can be also be informed to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights either through email ([email protected]) or through telephone (011-23478250) for assistance and help to the children.

    This information can also be shared with the respective state commissions of the said state/UT for the same,” the letter read.

  • Rape survivor paraded with accused: NCPCR asks MP police to submit inquiry report

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The apex child rights body, NCPCR, on Tuesday asked the Madhya Pradesh Police to submit an inquiry report within 24 hours into the alleged rape of a minor who was paraded with the accused in public after tying them with ropes.

    A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 21-year-old man on Sunday in tribal-dominated Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh, following which villagers paraded both the accused and the victim in public by tying them with ropes, police said.

    A total of six persons, including the man who is accused of rape, and five villagers, have been arrested.

    A video showing the girl and the accused tied with ropes, being beaten and forced to walk in public in the village under Jobat police station amidst slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” has gone viral on social media.

    In a letter to the DGP, Madhya Pradesh, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) asked him to initiate an inquiry and take lawful action in the matter.

    “An inquiry report of the case may please be submitted to this Commission along with the following information within 24 hours of the date of receipt of this letter. It must be ensured that the victim’s identity is not disclosed during the process of investigation,” the Commission said.

    The NCPCR further inquired whether a separate case of atrocity and torture against the minor is registered in this matter.

    Also, the Commission asked whether appropriate sections of JJ Act 2015 were part of the FIR.

  • Prohibit use of children in any form during election campaign: NCPCR to poll authorities

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The apex child rights body NCPCR has asked poll authorities to prohibit use of children in the election campaign in any form, taking “serious view” of minors being engaged in various activities such as sloganeering and circulation of pamphlets in violation of their rights.

    In an advisory to the poll authorities in West Bengal, Puducherry, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Thursday, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said it has received numerous complaints about usage of children during election campaigns in multifarious activities, which are in derogation and violation of rights of children.

    “After perusing such complaints, the commission has observed that during elections children are being used for sloganeering, circulation of pamphlets, election campaigns, etc. The Commission, accordingly, has taken serious view on usage of children in such activities and has taken cognizance upon these complaints in the past for seeking action in these matters,” according to the advisory.

    The apex child rights body has asked poll authorities to prohibit use of children in election campaigns.

    “The Commission recommends that your good offices may kindly take note of this growing concern and issue an advisory to prohibit the use of children during election campaign in any form whatsoever, either for distribution of posters/pamphlets, pasting posters or to participate in slogan shouting, campaign rallies, election meetings etc. including pasting posters, hanging banners, distributing pamphlets and even participating in campaign rallies,” it said.

    Further, the Commission also recommended that such advisory prohibiting use of children during elections may also be included in the model code of conduct for future elections, as to prevent such instances of use of children in election campaigns.

    Assembly polls in four states and the union territory of Puducherry will start from March 27.

    West Bengal and Assam will have eight-phase and three-phase elections, while Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will have a single-phase election on April 6.

    The counting of votes is scheduled for May 2.

  • Counselling platform for children of slain BSF personnel launched

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A counselling platform to provide emotional and psychological help to the children of slain Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was launched on Friday here.

    The link will be available through a toll-free number 1800-1-236-236 and a weblink (www.ncpcr.gov.in), and counsellors appointed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will operate them, a BSF spokesperson said.

    An event was held at the headquarters of the border guarding force here at the CGO complex on Lodhi Road where BSF Director General Rakesh Asthana and NCPCR chairman Priyank Kanoongo launched the facility called ‘SAHARA’ or supportive action with holistic approach to build resilience among the children of armed police forces personnel.

    “During my personal interaction with the families of those personnel who were killed while being on duty, I found that the economic support that we provide to them was not all,” Asthana said.

    “They, especially children, feel like destitute due to the sudden death in the family and hence we planned to provide this SAHARA counselling helpline,” he said.

    The BSF chief said an estimated 400 personnel are killed in a year during duty due to various reasons.

    He added that children from other paramilitary or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) can also take benefit of this counselling platform.

    Kanoongo said NCPCR experts, including those based in various states, will try to ensure psycho-social well being of these children so that their aspirations are not affected.

    He said the NCPCR has got the names of 674 children of slain BSF personnel till now.

    “SAHARA is aimed at providing emotional support, psycho-social first aid and counselling for the children, and this facility will be functional from 10 AM-5 PM Monday to Friday,” the BSF spokesperson said.

    The about 2.65 lakh personnel BSF is the country’s largest border guarding force and it is primarily tasked to guard Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

    It also is tasked to render a variety of internal security duties.