Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Jan 22
Mukti NGO Jammu based Non Governmental Organization working for the welfare of women folk today appealed the Jammu and Kashmir government and allied departments including Police, Prosecution department, State Legal Service Authority and Social Welfare department to abide by all the provisions of the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 and rules.
In a fervent appeal to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, Nidhi Sharma, Chairperson of the Mukti Organization demanded full implementation of all the provisions of the POCSO Act in the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory to ensure zero tolerance towards abuse and crime against Children .
In her plea to the government, Nidhi said Under the POCSO rules framed by the Union government last year, all the State governments have been asked to formulate a child protection policy based on the principle of zero-tolerance to violence against children, which shall be adopted by all institutions, organisations, or any other agency working with, or coming in contact with children.
Citing the recent rape case of a Minor girl registered in Police Station Nagrota on 24/ Dec/2020 wherein the negligence and insensitivity of Investigating Officer was exposed wherein the IO had failed to perform his duty and who was later after the intervention of the LG Manoj Sinha was removed, the Mukti NGO Chairperson said only trained and sensitive people should be engaged in dealing sexual abuse and rape cases involving minors. She further alleged that in this case registered in P/S Nagrota involving the minor girl, even the role of Child Welfare Committee CWC remained lackadaisical as they appointed the mandatory Support Person only on 19/Jan/2021 almost a month later wherein the rape case was reported on 24/Dec/2020 and as per the provisions of the POCSO rules the Child Welfare Committee has to provide assistance and appoint Support Person as expeditiously as possible.
