Do not believe the myths, most of them are untrue, instructed a handbook by India's apex child rigts body for panchayat members in rural areas.
Home is the safest place for children, we should not worry about boys, they can take care of themselves, it is better to marry off girls while they are minors, God created children, he will look after them - these are some common myths that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) warned elected representatives against today.
The handbook prepared by the NCPCR, in association with the UNICEF, and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, contains a series of tips for Panchayat members on how to protect children under their jurisdiction.
"There are several misconceptions about child rights. Many people do not understand why children need protection and who they need it from. But it is important for panchayat members to be aware of this so that they can contribute to child protection in their village," the handbook states, listing a series of myths associated with child protection.
While many might think that home is the safest place for a child, it is not true, the handbook states, adding that it is common in many families to physically assault children.
Many families get their children married off at a young age so that they are not responsible for them anymore. It is here, says NCPCR that the community, government and panchayat members come in.
"Unless and until communities are involved, making a difference in the lives of children at the village level is an uphill task," said Secretary of Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Jitendra Shankar Mathur.
The handbook also sought to create awareness about the fact that it is not just girls who are vulnerable and need protection, but boys do to.
"Like girls, boys too are vulnerable to sexual and emotional exploitation. In some cases, boys are forced into child labour bonded labour. Often they are subjected to sexual assault at their workplaces. Assistance should be taken from government aided legal organisations to prevent these situations," the handbook said.
The guidebook also states there are a lot of misconceptions among families and the community surrounding child rights.
Many families put their children's future at stake because of their traditional views and sometimes because of their own selfish reasons. Under these circumstances, the role of the panchayat members becomes more significant, it states.
Panchayat members have also been given tips to look out for vulnerable children- children involved in labour, street children and orphans, children belonging to weaker sections, children with HIV/AIDS, children trapped in prostitution and others.
NCPCR will soon begin a programme through which the idea of community participation to retain children in villages will be taken up in 14 states and union territories.
Through this child-friendly panchayats or bal panchayats, recreational activities for children at the panchayat level and vocational training for them to make a livelihood are some of the additions proposed to be made to the already-existing Panchayat systems in the country.
The states to be covered on pilot basis would be Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Uttharakhand, Uttar Pradesh where State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) have a proven track-record of initiatives pertaining to children and are strong and active in the field of child rights.
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