GUWAHATI, March 4 - Children are the primary asset of any nation and Assam, which has 41 per cent of its total population as children, is duty-bound to create an enabling environment for their holistic development. Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi said this while speaking at the 6th Child Protection Day organised by the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) in collaboration with UNICEF Assam at Srimanta Sankaradeva International Auditorium here today.
Prof Mukhi said that while Assam has become the first state in India to officially declare �child protection day� to be commemorated every year in the State on March 4, the State government has taken several steps for protection of children from child trafficking and its manifestations. He said that with the declaration of child protection day on the day of establishment of ASCPCR, a journey was begun for a significant development in ensuring a world for children, wherein they (children) will have unhindered and enriching childhoods without any hindrance posed by any kind of abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect.
He also said, �Today�s children are tomorrow�s leaders. However, many a time it is seen that childhood, which is the formative period of anybody�s life, is ruined by some rogue elements. I am happy to know that the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, under the leadership of Dr Sunita Changkakati, has focused on the issues of child trafficking and its various manifestations.�
He also hailed the efforts of the Commission and UNICEF for going the last mile to conduct consultative workshops with the victims of child trafficking, who are currently under the care and protection of the Ujjwala Homes in the State.
It may be noted that the Commission, in collaboration with UNICEF, in its pursuit to protect the rights of the children and provide them a child-friendly environment, had done several consultations at the zonal level, which culminated in the form of a State-level consultation. ASCPCR Chairperson Dr Changkakati, chief of UNICEF Assam Tushar Rane, Inspector General of Police Surendra Kumar and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
