Child rights panel yet to be born

Hyderabad: Even a year after announcing the Child Rights Commission, there is no sign of it being set up. Minister for women and child welfare Sunitha Lakshma Reddy said, “It took  a long time to come up with suitable candidates for the panel.

We have shortlisted six members and two names have been shortlisted for the chairperson’s post. The file has been sent to the Chief Minister for a final confirmation and we are awaiting his approval. After that, the commission will focus on better enactment of child rights.”

The women and child welfare department said that the Child Rights Commission had to be set up by December, 2012.

In January this year, the Supreme Court directed state governments to start the operation of the commissions with a chairperson and six members, of which at least two should be women.
In April, the child and welfare department in Andhra Pradesh invited applications from eligible candidates.

A team comprising Jayasudha, minister Sunitha Lakshma Reddy, Ravi Kumar, a judge, principal secretary P.K. Mohanty and the commissioner of police screened the applications and shortlisted the candidates.

Six months later, another notification was issued  inviting more applications, as  the candidates were not found satisfactory, resulting in further delay. Child rights activists are furious with the delay.

“It has been more than 14 months. Is the government even serious about setting the commission up? So many  cases of rapes of minors, incidents of child labour, abuse and more have been reported recently. There needs to be more focus on protection of children and their rights,” said Padmavati, the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Hyderabad.

Founder of Andhra Pradesh Balala Hakkula Sangham, Achyuta Rao said, “It is high time the commission is set up. Every child has the right to a free and a secure environment.”