GUWAHATI, July 14 - In view of the worsening flood situation in the State, the Assam Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) has written to the district administration of the flood-affected districts for taking special measures to protect children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The child rights body has asked the authorities to step up vigil against human trafficking syndicates which take advantage of such situations and lure the helpless and homeless people with false promises of job, food and shelter.
With 25 districts of the State reeling under the fury of floods, lakhs of people have been affected and displaced. The number of affected people is most likely to go up with new areas being affected by the inundation due to incessant rainfall.
�We have written to the district administrations of all the flood-affected districts of the State asking them to take necessary measures to ensure health and safety of children, and also the pregnant women and lactating mothers who lose access to sanitation and basic healthcare. Things like basis nutritional food, sanitary pads, milk, baby food, first aid kit, disinfectants, etc., should be provided to them in the relief camps and relief distribution centres,� ASCPCR chairperson Sunita Changkakoti told The Assam Tribune.
�Last year also, we wrote to the district authorities during the annual floods. But, unfortunately, only four districts responded. Since this time large-scale devastation has taken place, we appeal to the State government to take special measures against the human traffickers, who prey on vulnerable women and children,� she added.
The Commission would also write to the Assam Chief Secretary seeking his intervention for ensuring that no child-rights infringement takes place due to the prevailing flood situation in the State.
�Toilets are another major concern for flood-affected people. Specially, women need access to safe and hygienic toilets. We hope these issues would be kept in mind while conducting relief and rehabilitation exercise in the State,� she further stated.
