Children must be given adequate space to grow on their own, said Collector U. Sagayam citing instances where they become hapless victims of domestic violence and separation of parents.
He was addressing a regional workshop for dissemination of the combined third and fourth report of Committee on Rights of Child, organised here on Tuesday by Indian Council for Child Welfare-Tamil Nadu and UNICEF, Chennai. The report was prepared in accordance with guidelines adopted by the UN Committee on Rights of the Child in its 39th session on June 3, 2005.
Mr. Sagayam called upon the representatives of groups working for children to fight for their rights, especially on prejudices against girl child. “Though concerted efforts from the State and social actors do take action against those prejudices, still it needs monitoring to prevent any form of discrimination.”
Serious action would be taken against firms that employ children as labourers, he said and asked the public to give information immediately if they come across any such cases. He also issued a warning to scan centres against taking up sex determination tests, which was against the law.
N. Narayanasamy, Registrar, Gandhigram Rural University, explained the salient features of the third and fourth report. India acceded to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1992, becoming one of the first few countries in the world to do so. India submitted its first report on implementation of the CRC in 1997. This was reviewed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in January, 2000. The second report was submitted in 2001 which was reviewed in February, 2004.He called upon non-governmental organisations and State representatives to consciously work towards the betterment of child welfare and explained how they could fill the gaps in the report.
Chandrika Thanikachalam, honorary general secretary, ICCW-TN, said that it was the second workshop, after the Chennai workshop that was held for northern districts. There would be a workshop in Salem. Valli Annamalai, secretary, ICCW, Madurai, said that deliberations of these workshops would be compiled and presented before the State Planning Commission. Shanthi Krishnaraj, honorary director, International Development Research Centre, ICCW, gave a presentation on health and educational aspects of children, and Girija Kumarababu, honorary joint secretary, discussed child protection alternate care family environment and adoption.
A group discussion highlighted holistic development of children and protection rights. Members from education department and NGO representatives in Tiruchi, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Theni, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Madurai took part in the workshop.
