Child Rights And Death Of Young Mind In ILPS (Inner Line Permit System) Agitation Of Manipur
By John Gaingamlung Gangmei
10 July, 2015
Countercurrents.org
The tragic incident of 8th July 2015 is very disturbing, indigestible and unacceptable, a 16 year old boy Sapam Robinson of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School of Imphal East was killed hit by a tear gas shell and many school going children (minor) were injured by the state force. According to Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon (OPWC), tear gas is a chemical agent banned in warfare by the International Geneva Convention. But it is frequently used against to control local protestors which continue to remain controversial. The pillars of the nation are being fired tear gas mercilessly, chased and beaten against their peaceful protest demanding withdrawal of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Worker Bill, 2015. Such recurring incident every alternate week, month, or year need to critically retrospect their well being in the state. Where do our young mind children fit in the democratic country? Ideally the state is supposed to provide better futures, and better world; in these battles parents have fought hard days and nights to give their children the best education, protection and care. The continuous conflicts and bloodshed in the state has taken tolls on the well being of the children. The United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1992 and The Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) 2000 defines child/minor as a person under 18 years of age. Their basics rights are Survival rights, Development rights, Protections rights and Participation rights. Technically and practically Manipur have failed them in many contexts.
In the preview of maintaining law and order, the state has imposed indefinite curfew and ordered closure of educational institutions till further notice. In such situation are we protecting or destroying the interest of the young minds. On the other hand, we also need to retrospect frequent dragging of the young minds, particularly school going children for the protest by the committee of JCIPLS and civil society organisations. Are these organisations doing at the best interest of the children? Certainly, Dr. Ambedkar advised that we must “educate, agitate and organise” for justice and freedom, however, I believe that we must stop dragging our young mind (minor) into such conflicting situation ever again. Let them study, let us not deprived them from their rights.
Even the law of the land requires taking consent of guardian for the minor in any matter for their wellbeing. The parents have whole authority and rights to see that their child is safe in the school. Under whose consent and permission were these young minds (minor) taken from school to participate or volunteer in the agitation? How confident do the parents feel to send their child to the school? Who will be accountable for the death and loss of the many young minds in such agitations? Is the State, civil society organisation, school authority or parents who sent their child to schools? The organising committees and school authority must also be held accountable not just the state. The pictures in the news clearly depict that school children were leading the agitation and left alone to themselves when the situation became hostile; this is very unethical on the part of organisers. Stop using school children as mechanism to pressurise the state machinery. Let us take primary roles together to protect and nurture our children.
John Gaingamlung Gangmei, Senior Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai.
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