- A 13-year-old girl who was trafficked to Delhi was brought back to the state and restored to her family. The school was not willing to take her back but the state commission for protection of child rights intervened. The girl has completed Class XII.
- A 13-year-old girl’s marriage was stopped after she went to the police. The commission had intervened and she was sent to a home. The girl has completed her graduation and aspires to be a WBCS (West Bengal Civil Service) officer.
The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights completed 10 years on Friday.
In the past decade,the monitoring body in the state has intervened to stop child marriages, child labour and taken cognizance of child sexual abuse where the perpetrators have been booked.
“Every day we receive messages or emails from children where we get complaints of child marriage, abuse or child labour. Over 95 per cent of child marriages are stopped and child abuse cases are looked into. This has happened because we have been able to create awareness,” said Sudeshna Roy, chairperson of the state commission for protection of child rights.
Roy took over as chairperson of the commission last year from Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti, who is now an advisor to the commission.
“To be honest when I came to the commission in September 2016, I had little idea about child rights, the juvenile justice act...I learnt on the job,” said Chatterjee Chakraborti.
“I learnt that the commission has much power and we don’t use it. I had to identify stakeholders like the police or district administration and bring them on board. We are a monitoring body who sends recommendations for action,” she said.
The commission works to ensure that children’s rights are protected. It works for not just girls or boys but also transgenders, Chatterjee Chakrabarti said.
The commission made a transgender child, a daughter of a sex worker and a boy who was trafficked as a child labour, chairperson for a day in different years to observe international day against human trafficking. The children placed their demands which were placed before the minister, incharge of women and child development and social welfare in the state.
“The children bring to the table the problems that they face every day,”said a member of the commission.
The commission has also introduced awards like the bravery awards for children who have shown the courage to either stop their marriages or their friend’s marriages.
Recognition has also been given to children’s homes where vulnerable children stay, who work under limitations and to the police as well.
“We have been able to do so much and work independently because the administration and the department (department of Women & Child Development & Social Welfare)” has been supportive,” said Roy.
“There is a lot more to do because we cannot change people’s mindset overnight,” said Roy.