Advocacy meet urges swift enactment of Manipur State Policy for Children 2025

A one-day advocacy meeting was held today at the conference hall of Wide Angle Social Development Organisation in Sagolband Moiranghanuba Mayai Leikai, Imphal, calling for the urgent enactment of the Manipur State Policy for Children 2025. The event was organised by Wide Angle Social Development Organisation in collaboration with the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) and supported by Child Rights and You (CRY).
The meeting was attended by key dignitaries including Keisam Pradipkumar, Chairperson of MCPCR; S. Saratkumar Sharma, Chief Advisor of Wide Angle and former Chairperson of MCPCR; Montu Ahanthem, Secretary of Wide Angle and former MCPCR member; and Thiyam Rajkishore Singh, Legal Consultant of MCPCR. Representatives from Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), District Child Protection Units (DCPOs), Child Care Institutions (CCIs), NGOs, and community stakeholders also participated.
Addressing the gathering, MCPCR Chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar stressed the importance of the proposed state policy in addressing diverse issues affecting children in Manipur, especially those from marginalised and violence-affected communities. He noted that the Commission had recently engaged with the Governor of Manipur on the issue and urged all stakeholders, including government departments, to unite in advocating for the early enactment of the policy.
A technical session was conducted during which Thiyam Rajkishore Singh provided an overview of the recent amendments made to the policy draft. He explained the legal and administrative relevance of the revised provisions, highlighting how the changes would bolster the protection and promotion of children’s rights in the state. He called for continued support from all concerned stakeholders.
The meeting reviewed the development timeline of the policy, which was first drafted in 2015, officially submitted in 2017, and notified in the State Gazette in 2020. Participants noted that the Department of Social Welfare had recently taken positive steps by forming a revision committee, with the revised draft already submitted to relevant authorities for approval.
Speakers at the event unanimously underlined the urgent need to approve and implement the policy without further delay. An open discussion was also held, providing space for participants to share inputs and suggestions.
As part of the programme, the award-winning documentary Ruptured Spring was screened. The film, which received the Best Documentary Award at the International Short and Documentary Film Festival, poignantly captures the hardships faced by children in Manipur.
The event concluded with a collective commitment from all attendees to continue pushing for a rights-based, inclusive, and child-centric policy framework in the state.