Demand for independent commission for children

Various rights bodies and non-profit organisations have raised the demand for an independent commission for children that would monitor the violation of their rights. That our children, who constitute a third of the population, are prone to various forms of exploitation is an established fact – from exposure to violence and drug addiction to child pornography, incidents of which are on the upswing, thanks to the proliferation of digital media and easy access to the internet. These were some of the opinions expressed at a seminar organised in the city recently to discuss the draft National Child Rights Commission Act 2015. Stakeholders believe that for proper monitoring of such a large segment of the population, a separate entity needs to be formed and that there ought to be annual budgetary allocation for its smooth functioning.

However, merely creating a statutory body will probably not have that much of an effect; rather one that is able to operate autonomously and which would bring together different experts could go a long way in checking excesses committed in various institutions such as schools. The existence of a commission that would bring together, under its umbrella, lawyers and rights activists could help uphold children's rights, especially where children do not have much access to legal counsel presently.

We believe that the notion deserves some thought. And the idea of an independent commission should not be frowned upon, because even an independent watchdog is open to scrutiny and accountability for its actions.