• Five cases registered during lockdown period
Kohima, November 20 (MExN): Cases of children being abandoned and neglected has risen at an alarming rate during lockdowns that were enforced due to the outbreak of COVID-19 with five such cases reported in Nagaland, the Commissioner & Secretary, Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB), Sarah R Ritse informed on November 20.
Addressing a state level consultative webinar on the issue of ‘Negligence and Abandonment of Children,’ Ritse underscored the seriousness of the issue and how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the matter.
The webinar was organized by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland, Child Protection Service (CPS) and the State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW) Nagaland for their district functionaries. Gracy Ayee, State Coordinator, SRCW moderated the webinar, a press release from the SCRW informed.
In her key note address, Ritse pointed out that mothers/women in our society are often blamed or accused of not taking the responsibility, more so in the case of unwed mothers and laid emphasis on the need to acknowledge that that both men and women, father and mother or guardians in general are equally responsible for taking care of the child.
Ritse also underlined the importance of strengthening the convergence strategies both at the state and district level, and requested everyone in the field to focus on prevention of such cases.
She called on the functionaries to continue working for children’s welfare and upholding their rights, to make the state a safer place for children by giving the best possible services. Ritse further called upon all the key stakeholders, government, NGOs, civil societies, community based organizations, including churches, village leaders and concerned citizens to collectively work together to sensitize the masses about the issue and the services available.
Ritse informed that as per the statistics on the CPS record from 2010 –2020, there were 6,490 sponsorship beneficiaries, 638 foster care beneficiaries, 476 aftercare beneficiaries and 137 surrendered, abandoned, orphaned children who have gone for legal adoption in-country as well as inter-country, the release stated.
A video titled ‘Deafening Silence’ produced by the Child Protection Services, Nagaland to sensitize the public about the issue of children in need of care and protection and services available was also launched by Ritse.
‘Situational Analysis from the Gender Perspective’ was presented by Meneno V, Research Officer for SRCW. Citing various cases, and pointing out the gender perspective drawn from them, she highlighted some of the challenges faced and recommendations for the same.
While presenting on Intervention Strategies under Child Protection Services, Renchumi Imti, Programme Manager, CPS, Child Protection Services, informed about the services, activities, intervention strategies and preventative mechanisms, and some of the success stories of the CPS. In cases of child abandonment or negligence, she informed that one can inform the nearest Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPU), the 181, 1098, District Child Protection Units (DCPU), the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), or the Juvenile Justice Boards (JJB).
Sharing of experiences at the grassroots level was presented by Sekho Dawhuo, District Child Protection Officer, Wokha and Weri-u Mero, Centre Administrator, Sakhi-One Stop Centre, Dimapur who spoke about cases of abandonment of children registered and intervened at their respective centres.
According to the release, the webinar came to a close with the ‘Way Forward for Convergence to Protect Child Rights’ proposed by Tosheli Zhimomi, Joint Director, Department of Social Welfare & Director, CPS.
Zhimomi stressed on the importance of good coordination among stakeholders, the need to create awareness at the community level, considering the incidents that occurred during the lockdown. She also emphasized on the various upcoming projects in the form of videos on child rights which can be promoted or circulated during awareness programmes and encouraged more review and consultative meets between stakeholders for follow up and progress.
