A one-day District Level Convergence Meeting on “Issues of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Children” was held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Kakching District. The programme was organised by the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) in collaboration with the District Administration, Kakching and District Child Welfare Committee. The programme was attended by MCPCR Chairperson Keisam Pradikumar, Deputy Commissioner Uppuluri Chaitanya, (IAS), Superintendent of Police Priyadarshini Laishram (IPS), Additional Deputy Commissioner P Shantikumar Singh, along with SDOs, SDPOs, DLOs and officials of the District Administration Kakching. Speaking at the occasion, Keisam Pradipkumar said the objective of the MCPCR is to provide possible interventions for internally displaced children, with its focus centred on protection and mental health. He stated that the Commission has been actively involved at the grassroot level and that several such discussions have already taken place. He added that convergence, in simple terms means working in a coordinated manner towards one common goal, with different agencies and officials at various levels working together.
Applauding the officials, Pradipkumar said several positive developments had taken place in Kakching District in the past and expressed hope that such efforts would continue. He said the Kakching Child Welfare Committee has been actively engaged in this regard and has demonstrated its commitment by opening a bank account for children, which he noted would help in building the child’s career and support decisive education. Speaking about the draft State Action Plan for the protection of IDP children, he said that it is a recent draft prepared by the Commission and that it outlines a vision on how to ensure transition support for internally displaced children along with their families when they return from relief camps to their respective villages.
DC Uppuluri Chaitanya appealed to all stakeholders and concerned departments to cooperate and work to the best of their abilities for the welfare of IDP children. A brief overview on “Issues and Challenges of IDP Children in respect of Kakching District” was delivered by Maibam Robindro Singh, In-Charge District Child Protection Officer, Kakching District. Draft copies of the State Action Plan for the Protection of IDP Children were also presented to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police. The meeting also included interactions and discussions between officials and the IDPs in attendance.
