HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, March 5: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with the District Administration, Sonitpur, organised a District Level Conference on “Key Issues of Child Rights” on Thursday at the Tezpur Convention Centre, Dolabari, here chaired by District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das accompanied by Assistant Commissioner and In-Charge DCPO Chayanika Hazarika, Inspector of Schools Prabhat Das, Joint Director of Health Services Dr Biman Sharma and other concerned officials. The conference aimed at strengthening awareness and improving the implementation of child protection laws and institutional mechanisms at the district level.
The programme commenced with the inaugural session, where officials of the District Administration and representatives of child protection institutions highlighted the need for coordinated action among all stakeholders to safeguard the rights and welfare of children. Following the welcome address and objective briefing by the District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das, an audio-visual presentation was screened highlighting key child protection concerns including child marriage, child labour, child trafficking and other forms of exploitation of children. The presentation also created awareness about the Child Helpline number 1098, which provides immediate assistance and support to children in distress and informed participants about the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) official adoption portal (https://cara.wcd.gov.in/) for promoting transparent and legal adoption procedures in the country.
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Dr Gitanjali Ghosh, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Law, Tezpur University, delivered a session on “Bullying and Cyber Bullying in Schools: Identification, Prevention and Response Mechanisms.” The session emphasised the growing risks associated with cyber spaces and the need for schools, parents and authorities to develop effective response mechanisms to address bullying and online harassment among children. In another session, Abha Borah, former Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Sonitpur, spoke on “Building a Safe Environment – Empowering Teachers, Children and Parents.” The session highlighted the importance of awareness, sensitisation and capacity building among teachers, parents and school authorities in creating a protective environment for children within schools and communities. The conference also featured a session on “Issues Related to Prevention of Child Trafficking” delivered by Hemanta Dahal, Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC) and representative of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Sonitpur. The discussion focused on identifying vulnerable situations, strengthening preventive measures and ensuring timely legal and institutional support for victims.Senior officials emphasised the importance of effective implementation of key legislations including the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The conference brought together major stakeholders including officials from the Departments of Education, Health, Police, Women and Child Development, members of Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), officials from the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), representatives of Child Care Institutions (CCIs), school principals and teachers and representatives from civil society organisations.
During the open house discussion, participants shared field experiences, highlighted practical challenges in the implementation of child protection laws and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening district-level mechanisms for ensuring the safety, protection and well-being of children.
