MCPCR Chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar urged the Manipur government to implement the State Child Policy, citing growing child rights concerns amid ongoing conflict.
Imphal, May 18: Amid growing concerns over child rights issues in Manipur, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) Chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar has urged the state government to take immediate steps for the implementation of the State Child Policy.
He made the appeal during a one-day consultation programme on “Strengthening Child Protection Systems and Access to Justice in Manipur” held at Kanglei Conference Hall, Palace Compound, Imphal, on May 26. The programme was jointly organised by Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights and Samarita Resource Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Pradipkumar said the draft of Manipur’s “State Policy for Child” was initially prepared in 2017. He stated that the draft was later reviewed in 2025 by a committee constituted by the state government, following which the revised version was submitted to the concerned department.
According to him, the only remaining step is approval by the state cabinet and issuance of an official notification for its implementation.
“Unfortunately, the government has not taken up the necessary measures for its implementation till now,” he said, adding that the delay raises concerns regarding the seriousness of the authorities on child-related issues.
Pradipkumar also spoke about the historical evolution of child rights globally and in India. He said child rights did not receive adequate attention during the early stages of the international human rights movement.
Referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he pointed out that only limited references concerning child rights were included in the document. According to him, the issue began receiving greater international attention after the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989.
In the Indian context, he said child rights issues gained more prominence after the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2000.
Highlighting the present situation in Manipur, Pradipkumar said the ongoing conflict that began on May 3, 2023, has had a severe impact on women and children, especially internally displaced persons (IDP) children.
He said children living in relief camps and conflict-affected areas were facing hardships different from the general population. Apart from displacement and insecurity, cases involving crimes against children affected by the conflict have also emerged.
Though such incidents are not frequent, he noted that cases involving children being driven to suicide and losing their lives had also come to light.
“What is being witnessed among these children is not a good sign at all,” he said while stressing the need for immediate attention and collective intervention.
Pradipkumar further stated that improving child rights and creating a child-friendly society cannot be achieved solely through the efforts of the commission. He called for collective participation from civil society organisations, student bodies, intellectuals and the public to address the challenges faced by children in the state.
He once again appealed to the state government to officially notify and implement the State Child Policy at the earliest.
During the technical sessions of the consultation programme, resource persons including Women’s Action for Development (WAD) Secretary Sobita Mangshatabam, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Imphal West Chairperson Gitabali Sanasam, and District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) Imphal East representative Amitachanu Leishangthem shared their experiences and perspectives on child rights issues and protection mechanisms in Manipur.
