The Hindu : Bill likely to set up National Commission for Children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

National

National

Bill likely to set up National Commission for Children

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 1. Though the Finance Ministry is yet to give its nod for the proposed National Commission for Children, the Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry is confident that a Bill to set up such a statutory body has been listed for introduction in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Having committed itself to setting up such a commission with the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, speaking about it time and again, WCD officials do not foresee any hurdles in seeing the proposal through Cabinet; given the clout the Minister wields in the current dispensation.

Still, WCD is pursuing the matter with the Finance Ministry, with Dr. Joshi himself writing to his counterpart, Jaswant Singh, seeking clearance for the proposal that seeks to ensure proper enforcement of children's rights and effective implementation of laws relating to children.

When the HRD Ministry first forwarded the proposal for Finance Ministry clearance, the latter objected to the setting up of a separate commission to safeguard the interests and rights of children, and in turn recommended that it be merged with the National Commission for Women (NCW). However, the WCD contention is that children deserved to be treated separately and officials in the Ministry find no solace in the Finance Ministry suggestion to have more members in NCW to deal exclusively with children.

Envisaged as a statutory body to be set up by an Act of Parliament, the proposed Commission will have a chairperson — a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court — and six other members besides a member-secretary and support staff. The proposed functions of the Commission include investigation and examination of matters for safeguarding the interests and laws for children; review of policies, programmes and other activities for children; undertake research; fund litigation; inspect homes for children; look into complaints; and take suo motu action.

As per the Bill, the Commission would be empowered to summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses and examine them under oath; receive evidence on affidavits; requisition any public record or copy from any court or office; and issue commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

Yet to be brought up before the Union Cabinet, the Bill — drafted with the help of experts and the National Law School -- was sent to all State Governments and Union Territory administrations besides related Ministries and departments of the Central Government for their views. It was only after such wide consultation, say WCD officials, and nation-wide consensus that the Ministry decided to take the proposal to its logical conclusion.

As for the National Policy and Charter for Children — which was promised in NDA's National Agenda for Governance — work is on to have it in place by March 2003 in the hope of it serving as a beacon for the nation vis-a-vis children for the next decade.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National