Chandigarh January 31:
Punjab has finally woken up for the rights of the children. In order to address the grievances and complaints of children, the State Government will soon set up a commission—Punjab State Child Commission (PSCC).
Apparently concerned over the increasing number of crime against children, Punjab Government has at last taken the first step to provide a safe and secure environment for comprehensive development of children. Punjab will be the first State in north India to set up such a commission after Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan and Delhi.
Leaping ahead from Haryana, Punjab will set up the Child Commission apart from having the State Human Rights Commission and the Women Commission, while Haryana has failed to set up even a commission to safeguard human rights. “As of now, we have sent the proposal for the same to the State Finance Department and their final nod is awaited,” Punjab Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development Director Gurkirat Kirpal Singh told reporters.
“Time and again, we have come across issues related to the violation of child’s rights and regarding their protection. So the Commission, decided to be set up, will hear the grievances and complaints of the children only,” he added. Deputy Director Rajneesh Kumar Jasra said: “The setting up of the Commission is a step towards securing the rights and life of the children. Moreover, the Right to Education Act, asked to be made operational by the Centre, can only be implemented in letter and spirit only with the setting up of this commission.”
The Commission will be set up under the Centre’s Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). For the implementation of the scheme, the State Government has recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre and awaiting final fund approval by the State Finance Department. The Commission will address the grievances of the children up to 18 years of age. It will also generate awareness among children regarding their need and rights. The stray instances of crime against children and violating their rights has, now and then, come into light. From child marriage to rape to murder, the heinous crimes against children across the State have seen an upward trend in the past few years.
The figures provided by the Punjab Police revealed that in 2009, a total of 729 cases of crime against children were reported compared to 389 cases in 2008 with an increase of 87.4 per cent. Also, the figures made available by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) also indicated that the crime against children, especially the child marriage and disappearance or missing instances, is high in number. In 2010, as many as 237 cases of crime against children have been instituted by PSHRC.
Punjab has finally woken up for the rights of the children. In order to address the grievances and complaints of children, the State Government will soon set up a commission—Punjab State Child Commission (PSCC).
Apparently concerned over the increasing number of crime against children, Punjab Government has at last taken the first step to provide a safe and secure environment for comprehensive development of children. Punjab will be the first State in north India to set up such a commission after Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Bihar, Rajasthan and Delhi.
Leaping ahead from Haryana, Punjab will set up the Child Commission apart from having the State Human Rights Commission and the Women Commission, while Haryana has failed to set up even a commission to safeguard human rights. “As of now, we have sent the proposal for the same to the State Finance Department and their final nod is awaited,” Punjab Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development Director Gurkirat Kirpal Singh told reporters.
“Time and again, we have come across issues related to the violation of child’s rights and regarding their protection. So the Commission, decided to be set up, will hear the grievances and complaints of the children only,” he added. Deputy Director Rajneesh Kumar Jasra said: “The setting up of the Commission is a step towards securing the rights and life of the children. Moreover, the Right to Education Act, asked to be made operational by the Centre, can only be implemented in letter and spirit only with the setting up of this commission.”
The Commission will be set up under the Centre’s Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS). For the implementation of the scheme, the State Government has recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre and awaiting final fund approval by the State Finance Department. The Commission will address the grievances of the children up to 18 years of age. It will also generate awareness among children regarding their need and rights. The stray instances of crime against children and violating their rights has, now and then, come into light. From child marriage to rape to murder, the heinous crimes against children across the State have seen an upward trend in the past few years.
The figures provided by the Punjab Police revealed that in 2009, a total of 729 cases of crime against children were reported compared to 389 cases in 2008 with an increase of 87.4 per cent. Also, the figures made available by the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) also indicated that the crime against children, especially the child marriage and disappearance or missing instances, is high in number. In 2010, as many as 237 cases of crime against children have been instituted by PSHRC.
