After almost four months since the State government constituted a three-member committee to identify members for the Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the body will be set up in a month’s time.
The setting up of the Commission has been mandated by the Right to Education Act, 2009, and will serve as a crucial link in monitoring and taking up complaints with regard to its implementation.
According to an official, the department of social defence received close to 120 applications for the posts. The three-member committee comprising the minister for social welfare, chief secretary to the government and secretary to the department of social welfare and nutritious meal programme will verify and scrutinise the applications.
The commission will have a chairperson and six members, of which at least two will be women. These members are expected to have experience in the fields of education, child health care, welfare or child development, juvenile justice or care of neglected or marginalised children, child psychology, sociology and laws relating to children.
Other than outlining the role of the commission, a Government Order issued by the state government earlier this year, states that the commission would also have the power to take suo moto cognizance of issues relating to violation of child rights.
With almost two months having passed since the academic year began, Shantha Sinha, chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said if the government has already set the ball rolling, one month is an achievable target.
