Selection procedure for MCPCR members irked Child Rights Activists

IT News

Imphal, Nov. 30

Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) is once more in the news for another alleged act of foul play. Earlier, Child Rights activists were surprised to the wisdom of Government for selecting a Music Graduate lady as the chairperson of the MCPCR and appointment of her own husband as advisor at her own capacity. There were instances of complaints of eve teasing and humiliation of girl intern students by staffers of the MCPCR which was denied by the Chairperson, whose qualification is Music graduate.

Many Child Rights Activists appreciated the state government for its initiative to fill the vacant post of members of the MCPCR, which remain vacant for the last seven months. However the selection procedure adopted for selection of the members has irked many child rights activists of the state

The Selection Committee comprises Minister concerned, Principal Secretary (SW) and Director Social Welfare. The selection meeting of the members took place on November 23, at 11 A.M., however final notification transpired in social media only on November 28, casting a possible hassle over finalizing the final list. Reliable sources implied that few top legislators of the State endorsed either with DO letters or pressure as to select their near and dear candidates. Wonderfully, a recommendation letter from the incumbent Chairperson of MCPCR, Ms Shumatibala Ningthoujam addressed to the concerned Minister dated 12/6/2019, has been leaked out to the press and social media.  The letter contains the names of six persons. Interestingly out of the six proposed persons recommended by   Ms Shumatibala, altogether five persons got selected by the selection committee.

Is it ethical and appropriate to write such a big inducing letter containing  all six persons to fill-up the  six vacant seats   by a  serving Chairperson of MCPCR  to its concerned  Minister or how did the three wise men Selection Committee precisely approve all five candidates out of six persons mentioned in the letter? – remains a big question mark. One unselected candidate, while keeping his identity anonymously   expressed that “the incident could not be treated as a mere coincidence, since the very result triggers a big contemptuous conjecture upon the wisdom and fairness of whole selection procedure”. He further added  “  Selection of  5 out of 6 proposed persons in a single letter, is nothing , but  only to  fulfill the individual or political  desire of the said  recommending person and it is highly objectionable “.       Amongst the six selected persons included the Vice President Mahila Morcha  BJP,  a superintendent of a Child Care Institute,  Member of CDRF Thoubal, a person working in SASO, a lecturer of  IGNOU Thoubal College. 

It may be mentioned that, the selection was done  under Section 18 of Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 by a notification  vide No. 9/25/2005 – S (SW) Pt. I Imphal dated, the 23rd November, 2019.  Section 17 (b) of CPCR Act, 2015 mandated the Government to appoint  six members, which at least two shall be women, from amongst persons of imminence, ability, integrity, standing and experience in , education, child health, welfare of or child development, juvenile justice or care of neglect or marginalized children or children with disabilities, elimination of child labour or child in distress, child psychology or sociology and laws related to children.