AGARTALA, October 30 (TIWN): Parents have to play a vital role regarding child rights issues, said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar while speaking in the workshop/training on child rights issues at pragna bhavan here today.

The minister further said that ‘Child Protection’ is about protecting children from or against any perceived or real danger or risk to their life, their personhood and childhood. It is about reducing their vulnerability to any kind of harm and ensuring that no child falls out of the social safety net and that those who do, receive necessary care, protection and support so as to bring them back into the safety net. While protection is a right of every child, some children are more vulnerable than others and need special attention, he added.

Nutrition is very important for everyone, but it is especially important for children because it is directly linked to all aspects of their growth and development factors which will have direct ties to their level of health as adults. Nutrition is required for normal growth and development of a child. The hope for the country lies in giving equals opportunities for both boys and girls. Time again proved that girls had extended their supportive hands to old parents and have nurtured their children into better adults. This has happened in places where girls and boys are raised together without any gender bias, he added.

We had already achieved the first position in literacy in the country with 95.16 percent and we will also achieve 100 percent literacy. We have launched all-out efforts to make literate the remaining people with Class 3 standards by March 2015, he said.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 is the primary legal framework for juvenile justice in India. The Act provides for a special approach towards the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and provides a framework for the protection, treatment and rehabilitation of children in the purview of the juvenile justice system. This law, brought in compliance of Child Rights Convention, repealed the earlier Juvenile Justice Act of 1986.

Although the legislation was passed in 2000, many children, including those who had been trafficked and rescued were unable to find a placement in a proper children’s home or be repatriated, although these are all necessary under the JJA (Juvenile Justice Act.) The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2006 is the legislation which deals with the largest group of vulnerable children, children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law. The Act is a protective legislation but, needs much stronger administrative and infrastructure support along with greater financial outlay for it to fully effective, he mentioned.