Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Department of Civil Supplies to implement the PHH (Priority Household) Scheme of the National Food Security Scheme effectively.
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The body passed an order after hearing the complaint filed by Goa Pro Child Network, which filed an RTI reply showing poor implementation of scheme and children being deprived of food supplies.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), recognises that all children up to 18 years of age are human beings in their own right, and are entitled to inalienable rights – inherent to human dignity – including the right to healthy food and adequate nutrition, the right to non-discrimination, and the right to consider their best interests in all matters that affect them. Governments are the primary duty bearers in protecting the rights of all children and are bound to uphold their commitments, which includes giving special consideration to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children, including their right to food and adequate nutrition, said Peter F Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The body expressed displeasure and noted that there was no attempt to enroll and ensure regular food supplies to children belonging to several categories mentioned in the notification for the last five years, even in the midst of pandemic.
“All that the Commission has to be satisfied and which it may have to ensure is that the food grains reach the children. Mere notification of schemes without any implementation are of no use. What is important is that the food must reach the hungry and those deprived of it”, read the inquiry report.
“The anxiety of the Commission is to see that the poor and the destitute the weaker sections of the society, especially children in vulnerable circumstances, whose conditions are aggravated by COVID-19, do not suffer from hunger and starvation. The prevention of the same is one of the prime responsibilities of the government. The data provided by the complainant, obtained under RTI, reflects poor knowledge of the scheme in public domain and unsatisfactory effort by the department for enrollment and wide publicity of the scheme”, it states further.
