Mrs. Shanta Sinha, a Ramon Magasaysay Awardee has been appointed the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Well known for her outstanding contribution in the field of child development and education, she is the founder Secretary Trustee of Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya (MV) Foundation, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh and has been involved in programmes for elimination of child labour through universalization of elementary education in Andhra Pradesh. Her present focus is on girl child and children engaged in bonded labourers in partnership with government teachers, women’s groups, youth associations, local bodies and NGOs.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a statutory body notified under an act of Parliament on 29th December, 06 will ensure proper enforcement of children’s rights and effective implementation of laws and programmes relating to children. Beside a chairperson the Commission will also have six Members. The members would be the experts in the field of child health, education, childcare and development, juvenile justice, children with disabilities, elimination of child labour, child psychology or sociology and laws relating to children. The Headquarter of the Commission will be in New Delhi.
Functions
The Commission would look into all matters relating to children in a holistic manner and its functions will include following:
Examine and review the safeguards provided by or under the Constitution or any law for the time being in force for the protection of child rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation. Present to the Central Government, annually and at such other intervals, as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards. Examine all factors that inhibit the enjoyment of rights of most vulnerable children affected by terrorism, communal violence, riots, natural disaster, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment, torture and exploitation, pornography and prostitution and recommend appropriate remedial measures. Look into the matters relating to children in need of special care and protection including children in distress, marginalized and disadvantaged children, children in conflict with law, juveniles, children without family and children of prisoners and recommend appropriate remedial measures. Study treaties and other international instruments and undertake periodical review of existing policies, programmes and other activities on child rights and make recommendation for their effective implementation in the best interest of children. Undertake and promote research in the field of child rights Spread child rights literacy among various sections of the society and promote awareness of the safeguards available for protection of these rights through publications, the media, seminars and other available means inspect or cause to be inspected any juvenile custodial home, or any other place of residence or institution meant for children, under the control of the Central Government or any State Government or any other authority, including any institution run by a social organization; where children are detained or lodged for the purpose of treatment, reformation or protection and take up with these authorities for remedial action, if found necessary inquire into complaints and take suo motu notice of matters relating to,-
- deprivation of child’s rights;
- non-implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children;
- non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring welfare of the children and to provide relief to such children,
or take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities; and
Such other functions as it may consider necessary for the promotion of child rightsand any other matter incidental to the above functions.
Powers
Powers of the Commission will include following:
summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; requiring the discovery and production of any document; receiving evidence on affidavits; requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents.NCJ/DT