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Kandhamal: children still suffering three years after pogroms
by Santosh Digal
A report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights highlights the negligence of the state towards the children affected by the violence of three years ago. Many children have had to move away. Others have had to drop out of school to go to work in dangerous occupations.
Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) – The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued findings that show that children continue to suffer three years after pogroms took place in Kandhamal District. The information was presented at a state-level workshop in Bhubaneswar, the capital of the state of Orissa.
The NCPCR found that children affected by the pogroms have dropped out of school in large numbers to go to work. Many followed their families who moved to other districts and states. In neither situation, were the children given any protection, or access to education or care.
Presenting a survey report, rights activist Mahendra Parida spoke to the Commission about the plight of children in Kandhamal. In it, he presented a database with information about of 1,500-odd children affected by the pogroms, which he gave to the Commission and the State Women and Child Welfare Department. Neither has yet taken any action on the findings.
Based on the report, the NCPCR told the state to provide schoolchildren with healthy food, safe drinking water, medical care, mosquito nets, recreation facilities and free textbooks.
However, state authorities have not treated the matter with the seriousness it deserves, NCPCR Chairwoman Shantha Sinha noted.
For her part, Women and Child Welfare Secretary ArtiAhuja told the Commission that her department would look into the matter.
She explained that steps were being to help children affected by the Kandhamal pogroms and to reenrol them in schools.
The meeting also brought to light the existence of many substandard schools and a lack of pres-schooling facilities for children under the age of five. It also showed that a large number of minors employed in dangerous occupations.