NCPCR submits special report to Droupadi Murmu on child protection issues in West Bengal

NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) submitted a special report to President Droupadi Murmu on child protection in West Bengal. It alleged that the state administration has been neglecting “the best interest of children and not acting as per their responsibilities under different child related Acts”.

The apex child rights also underscored that West Bengal has been non-cooperative and rampantly disregarding the laws. Before presenting it to the President, the “Special Report on Child Protection in West Bengal” was initially tabled in the Rajya Sabha on December 21 last year and later in the Lok Sabha on February 2.

It further highlighted the “deliberate mismanagement of delicate issues related to children which should otherwise be addressed in a more responsible and considerate manner”.

Pointing to the stark negligence, the commission took cognizance of reports of bomb blast in the state, where around 40 children have been the victims. During the inquiry, the child rights body came across “mistakes, oversights and disregard of the legal procedures”.

Also read Presidency University students block road, demand bus service for girl hostel boarders

The report said that the children were being targeted and subjected to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment since the conclusion of election in 2021. A total of 23 cases of post-election violence has been reported.

It also gave information on child trafficking and said that the several girls who were rescued were brought from West Bengal to either different states or different cities. Amid the alarming rise in the number of child trafficking cases, “the Chief Minister herself is making insensitive statements about the girl child victims of sexual abuse which is violating the POCSO Act, 2012 passed by the Parliament,” it alleged.

“The State is also violating the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. West Bengal is running a parallel system of dealing with what are being called as ‘destitute children’ in the State. These institutions are called ‘Cottage Homes’ and are being run under the Cottage Scheme,” the report said.