Child Rights Manifesto released

From strengthening mechanisms to watch feminine infanticide to participation of youngsters in Gram Sabhas, a baby rights manifesto, with numerous calls for, for Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections 2021 was released within the metropolis on Wednesday.

The manifesto was ready by the Tamil Nadu Child Rights Watch (TNCRW), Campaign Against Child Labour – Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Forum for Promotion of Child Participation – Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and Right to Education Forum – Tamil Nadu. It was released by Justice S Vimala, full time member, Tamil Nadu Law Commission.

One of the principle calls for was to strengthen the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994. “This includes formation of task force with participation of civil society organisations, to handle the issue of dropping child sex ratio in the State as revealed by the Census 2011 and the National Family Health Survey IV (2015 – 16). The issue of female infanticide is serious and needs urgent attention,” stated Andrew Sesuraj M., professor, Loyola Knowledge Hub for Excellence in Child Protection.

He stated that anganwadi centres must be upgraded on par with personal play faculties and their timing must be prolonged. “Besides Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 needs to be extended from newborn to 18 years of age guaranteeing free, quality and equitable education to all children compulsorily,” he added.

Another demand is to cease closing down authorities faculties within the title of merging of faculties and measures must be taken to strengthen the admission and attendance of the youngsters. The manifesto additionally spoke about reopening faculties instantly and offering masks, sanitizer, cleaning soap, and different COVID-19 necessities freed from value within the faculty itself. “Until schools reopen teachers should visit the children at home and teach. This will reduce school dropouts and incidents of violence against children at home,” stated A. Devaneyan, activist and director of Thozhamai.

The manifesto additionally burdened the necessity for the principles regarding the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to be revisited and strengthened. “Transparency in the selection of chairperson and members should be ensured. The Commission should be given full autonomy and required funds, infrastructure and human resources to transact the mandate for protecting and promoting child rights in the state,” he added.