MCPCR presents draft State Action Plan for Protection and Rehabilitation of IDP Children

A Stakeholders’ Convergence and Review Meeting was held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Bishnupur District, to review welfare, protection, and rehabilitation measures for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) children affected by the recent violence in Manipur. The meeting was chaired by Keisam Pradipkumar, Chairperson, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR).
During the programme, the Chairperson, MCPCR, presented a Draft State Action Plan for the Protection and Rehabilitation of IDP Children in Manipur, prepared by the Commission. Inputs and suggestions were invited from all stakeholders to strengthen coordinated, child-centric interventions aimed at ensuring the welfare and protection of displaced children.
Addressing the meeting, Keisam Pradipkumar emphasized the urgent need for the Government to announce a State Transitional Support Plan for IDPs undergoing resettlement, to adequately address their social and economic needs during the transition period. He also recalled the prolonged delay in the notification of the State Child Policy and strongly urged the Government to notify the policy within the first month of the new year. He stated that the notification of the State Child Policy, along with the Draft State Action Plan, would significantly strengthen Manipur’s response to the challenges faced by children affected by displacement.
The meeting was attended by the Zonal Education Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, District Child Protection Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Superintendent of Police, representatives from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Block Development Officers (BDOs), and representatives of NGOs, including New Life Foundation, Bishnupur.
In his presentation, T. Opendro, Additional District Magistrate, Bishnupur, highlighted the initiatives undertaken for the resettlement of IDPs and stated that Bishnupur district has emerged as a pioneer in rehabilitation efforts. He informed that 292 households comprising 1,027 persons have been resettled so far. He further stated that financial assistance of Rs.70,000 is being provided for partially damaged houses and Rs.3 lakh for complete house reconstruction under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). A total of 1,180 affected families have applied for housing grants, of which 40 houses have already been constructed.
District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), Bishnupur, Indrani Devi stated that 1,862 children have been recommended under the Mission Vatsalya Sponsorship Scheme, of which 140 children have already received the first instalment of support.
It was also informed that Bishnupur district alone has around 2,798 IDP children who have been declared Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP).