Call for action-oriented approach to safeguard Child Rights
Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, Nov 16: Former Jharkhand High Court judge S.N. Pathak emphasized that children were the future of the nation and society must work collectively to improve childhood and strengthen their foundation. He was speaking at a seminar on the Child Rights Protection Act during the fourth Children’s Fair.
SN Pathak said moral education was urgently required in society. “Moral science should not be taught casually. It should be taught formally, and scoring at least 75% in the subject must be made mandatory,” he asserted. He added that social degradation was taking place because people allowed it and remained indifferent. “We are responsible for this. We must hate the sin, not the sinner, and work for the welfare of children in our surroundings,” he said. He stressed that rights and duties must go hand in hand.
Pathak raised deep concerns about child labor. He recalled witnessing children working in iron ore mines in Jharkhand despite stringent laws. “The government machinery is aware, yet illegal activities continue. This must be stopped at all costs,” he said. He criticized the lack of fear of law in India, highlighting the need for people to learn and understand legal provisions. Stressing that the Constitution was the “mother of all laws,” he urged people to understand its provisions and appreciated the role of JJS and the Legal Services Authority in assisting citizens. He also elaborated on the 10 constitutional rights of children and key provisions of the JJ and POCSO Acts.
Speaking on the Right to Education, Chandradeep Pandey said that children’s lives were now confined to mobile phones.
The Children’s Fair aimed to bring fresh purpose to childhood. He explained that in 2009, education became a fundamental right for children aged 6 to 14. The teacher–student ratio, improved infrastructure, practical learning and inclusive education had strengthened the system. He emphasized zero discrimination and the recruitment of qualified teachers.
Deepak Kumar Singh discussed key aspects of the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act. Addressing the rising concerns, Vikas Dodrajka said that despite strong laws, violence against children was not decreasing. “We have not been able to communicate to the masses how strict child protection laws are. Awareness is lacking,” he said. He highlighted increasing cases under the POCSO Act, child sexual abuse and child labor—despite clear legal prohibitions. However, he acknowledged that widespread awareness efforts in Jharkhand were helping expose hidden cases and enable action. Dodrajka expressed deep concern over rising drug abuse among children, stressing the absence of a comprehensive plan to address it.
Prabha Jaiswal of Adarsh Seva Sansthan said society had failed to understand children and their vulnerabilities. She questioned whether children’s rights, despite being recognized globally on November 20, 1989, were truly protected. “Beautiful laws like the JJ Act and POCSO Act exist, but society does not comply,” she said. She spoke about rampant malnutrition, child marriage and the need to recognize urban slums as high-risk zones. She insisted on rehabilitation plans and efforts to curb drug supply in slums.
Advocate Anil Kumar of the Jamshedpur Bar Association said children must be educated about reporting abuse. “Under POCSO, a child’s identity remains protected. But we ourselves fail to follow laws such as the ban on employing children under 14,” he said. Article 15(3) empowered the state to make special laws for children, but implementation required vigilance and commitment.
Sanjay Mishra highlighted the need for effective implementation of the POCSO Act and said that 34 social security schemes existed that could bring transformative change if families and children were connected to them. He stressed the need to make Jamshedpur a child-friendly district and called for sensitivity among law-implementing authorities.
Rajhans Tiwari introduced the topic, Advocate Pratik moderated the session and Sanjeev Ranjan Bariyar delivered the vote of thanks.
