MARGAO: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) has escalated its child welfare concerns to the Juvenile Justice Committee (JJC) of the High Court.
The Commission took this measure after the Chief Secretary (CS) did not convene an urgent meeting despite two letters being sent to the CS.
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The failure of the State government to enforce the State Mental Health Rules 2017; the appalling neglect of special schools; the dire situation of street children; the inefficiency in the system of compensation for sexually abused children and various other issues (see box) were outlined as areas requiring urgent attention.
The commission also referred to the dire state of Childline services and the crumbling infrastructure supporting Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards.
In the letter to the Chairperson of the JJC, Peter F Borges, GSCPCR Chairperson urged immediate intervention.
“The State Child Protection Society (SCPS), ostensibly led by the CS, is obligated to convene annually to address and streamline critical issues. Yet, disgracefully, in the 11 years since its inception, it has convened a paltry 3-4 times,” said Borges.
“Our communications to the CS, laid out in no uncertain terms, the severe issues threatening the integrity of child welfare in Goa. We implored the office responsible for the SCPS to lead by example and galvanize a unified effort to amend these crises. Yet, our calls for action have been met with silence, and our plea for a joint meeting of stakeholders has been ignored,” Borges added.
The Commission gave the example of how critical services like Childline had been compromised by the State government’s apathy.
“The fact that our frontline warriors in child protection have been left unpaid for months on end is not just a failure; it’s a damning indictment of our system’s inability to prioritise and protect the most vulnerable among us. Our children cannot wait for bureaucratic conveniences or the slow turn of administrative wheels. The collapse of Childline is imminent if decisive action is not taken,” Borges added.
“Our appeal (to JJC) is to hold those at fault accountable for their unconscionable inaction,” Borges added.
“The time for polite conversations and gentle reminders is long past. We demand action, accountability, and substantial changes to ensure no child in Goa is left vulnerable due to the staggering incompetence and indifference of those in power, Borges concluded.
He also sought an appointment with the JJC Chairperson to discuss these matters in depth and to explore viable strategies for urgent intervention.
