The directorate of panchayats, in a recent order, has asked all block development officers in the state to make sure that village child committees are not only formed but also remain functional in each village panchayat. The order comes on the heels of rising incidence of crimes against children in Goa, which the government, by way of village child committees, hopes to address.
In truth, the directorate of panchayats shouldn’t have had to issue the order because it is compulsory, under the Goa Children’s Act, 2003, for each village panchayat to constitute a village child committee to protect the rights of children and promote conducive environments for them to discuss the problems they face and to help find a resolution to these.
The matter gained prominence following the brutal murder of a six-year-old girl by her father at Macasana in Salcete, and the assault of a 10-year-old boy with a steel rod by his mother at their home in Bordem, Bicholim.
If one is to understand the role of a village child committee, it is important to first understand the definition of a child. According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is defined as, “Every human being below the age of 18 years, unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier”. According to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, a child, “by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth”.
Therefore, a village child committee should adhere to core child protection principles such as the best interest of the child, child participation, confidentiality, non-discrimination, coordination and collaboration, and accountability. In case of a problem, it should consider the possible solutions that would promote the child’s care and development and opt for the solution which protects the child’s best interests under the circumstances.
Child participation, on the other hand, involves the provision of opportunities to children to express the opinions freely and to give these opinions due weightage by taking into consideration the child’s age and maturity when taking decisions that could affect their lives. Actively involving children in village child committees can increase awareness in their young minds about their rights within the committee and the community they live in too.
In case of an issue, village child committees must prioritise children’s needs and opinions in decisions where a solution may appear to be in conflict or compete with the needs of caregivers in particular or the community in general. Such committees should also inform children about their right to participate and facilitate opportunities for meaningful participation, invite children or representatives of children’s clubs to the committee meetings, allow children to raise concerns whenever necessary and work with them to develop and implement plans to address the concerns raised.
Village child committees can also contribute greatly to make arrangements for children with disabilities to participate in consultations and activities, to ensure that there is a balance of diversity, especially in gender, and to empower and provide equal opportunities for both girls and boys to participate in activities.
When problems arise, it is binding on the village child committee concerned to protect information and ensure that it is only shared after explicit permission of the child and/or his/her family is obtained. Committees are also expected to withhold identification information from anyone not directly involved with the child, including information shared during informal conversations.
Adult members of the village child committees should also ensure that the intervention to help one child does not cause conflict between individuals, families and communities, and expose the child and his or her family to further harm such as revenge or violence. Particularly, children who disclose abuse should be referred to the relevant officials who are responsible for the care and protection of children.
The committees are also expected to ensure confidentiality, follow up on referred cases, close low risk cases in a timely manner, ensure actions do not harm the child, and implement the annual action plan it chalks out. Good relationships with government agencies and other stakeholders must be maintained and information must be shared regularly.
A great concept it may be, but it is binding on the government and its relevant authorities to ensure that village child committees are set up in right earnest and function to their fullest if our young population is to be protected and given a voice of their own. Else, it will turn out to be just another great intervention only on paper which is thought about only in times of tragedies and injustices inflicted upon children.