Morung Express News
Kohima | March 14
The state review of the Juvenile Justice System- Effective Implementation of Statutes and Policies, Functioning of Institutions was held on March 14 in Kohima at Hotel Japfü.
The consultation was organised by the High Court Committee on Juvenile Justice, Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench in partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders in the state of Nagaland.
In his keynote address, Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak stated that the consultation is on the implementation of the policies formulated by the state machinery to safeguard the interest of children and their rehabilitation and the effective functioning of the institutions which are in place for protecting the rights of children.
Pathak informed that four rounds of national and regional consultations have been conducted so far since 2014 for developing effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act.
While several interstate consultation were also held, Justice Pathak stated that due to the limited time slots, four states (Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh) were not able to discuss elaborately on their strategies, problems and suggestions. Therefore, it was decided to hold consultation in all the four states with today's conference being the first.
"The main objective of today's consultation is to suggest ways to improve the juvenile justice system in general and to improve the statutes especially the Juvenile Justice Act and the policies framed under the framework of the act, as well as to see how the child care institutions can function in a more effective manner," said Justice Pathak noting that the stakeholders have a huge responsibility to improve the implementation of the Act.
"The state of Nagaland and its Home Department including the Police at various stages, Social Welfare Department, Health Department, Education Department, Labour and Industry Department, Law Department, District Administration, NGOs involved in the upliftment of the life of vulnerable children have to work jointly for our children of Nagaland," said Justice Pathak.
"We can never overemphasize the importance of doing our duties better for the children, delivering what you and I are responsible to deliver. If we build them up, they will produce good. If we don't build them up, they will produce something that can destroy our society. They are our future. They can make our future better or worse," said Justice Songkhupchung Serto during the meeting. Serto urged the gathering to learn to listen, understand each other's duties and challenges, and further better each other’s performances. Justice Serto also reminded, "We are not just here for the children per se but to create a better world for all of us. If we think that way, we will act better, do better."
Justice Hukato Swu, in his speech, addressed the need for providing quality care to the right beneficiaries by departments responsible. With the numerous laws protecting the rights of children, Justice Swu stated that all the stakeholders are performing their Constitutional duties. However, Swu also added that "Many things happen on the paper and nothing happens on the ground," and urged the stakeholders to perform their duties.
The consultation discussed on Juvenile Justice (JJ) Systems, institutions, physical infrastructure, human resource, budget, state action to promote alternative care and quality institutional care.
In their presentation, the Social Welfare department highlighted the activities under Child Protection Services which was launched in 2010 with seven cases registered. There are 68 cases registered at present. There are 6028 sponsorship beneficiaries and 638 foster care beneficiaries, and 476 after care beneficiaries from 2010 February to 2020. Further, 137 abandoned, surrendered and orphaned children have gone for legal adoption, it said.
