Child care and protection issues discussed by District Child Protection Department in Mangaldai

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI: Several important issues related to care and protection of children, including illegal child marriage, immoral child trafficking and child labour, were discussed in a meeting organized by the District Child Protection Department (DCPD) in the Pacchim Mangaldai Higher Secondary School premises on Saturday at Aulachowka Gaon Panchayat near here.

The meeting, which was part of the series of public sensitization programme undertaken by the DCPD, Darrang across the district in recent time, was addressed by several prominent speakers of different professional fields, including District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) Dr Jowahira Tabassum, chairman of District Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Rajen Chandra Das, Subdivisional Medical and Health Officer Dr Ramesh Chandra Goswami, District Child Protection Officer Kubendra Warisa, Principal of Pacchim Mangaldai Higher Secondary School, Tapan Sarma and Protection Officer of DCPD, Pallabi Sarmah.

DEEO Dr Tabassum in her speech underlined the importance of education in a child’s life, especially for the girl child, to become economically self-dependent and thus ensure constitutional rights.

Similarly, chairman of CWC Darrang, Rajen Chandra Das threw light on different socio-economic factors leading to the practice of child marriage, child trafficking and child labour, which was followed by a brief discussion regarding the alarming rise of illegal cases of child marriage in the aspirational district as well as the role and responsibilities of all stakeholders concerned in the society.

Protection Officer Pallabi Sarmah spoke on the various legal provisions related to these above mentioned illegal practices and the need of organized awareness in the remote corners.

On the other hand, Subdivisional Medical and Health Officer Dr Ramesh Chandra Goswami explained the evil effects of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy from medical aspect like malnutrition, high risk of mortal maternity, still births and infant mortality among others. “Eighty eight per cent of adolescent girls are anaemic, hence the adolescent mothers carry a very high risk of mortality both for maternal and infant,” added Dr Goswami. He further said, “Per every thousand deliveries, 300 newborn babies and 30 mothers lose their lives.”

The meeting was attended by different stakeholders, including adolescent girl students, parents, guardians, ASHA supervisors, Anganwadi workers and helpers under Pacchim Mangaldai and Kalaigaon ICDS was chaired by Tilak Chandra Sarma, a veteran local academician and a former member of the District Juvenile Justice Board, while Dulal Chandra Deka, Legal-cum-Probation Officer (i/c), DCPD, explained its objectives in the beginning.

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