Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 431/22

STATE LEVEL CONSULTATION ON EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF POCSO ACT, 2012

A one day State Level Consultation on Effective Implementation of POCSO Act, 2012 Reflection on progress, challenges, opportunities and way forward was held today at Yojana Bhavan, Shillong. The programme was organised by the Juvenile Justice Committee, High Court of Meghalaya in collaboration with Directorate of Social Welfare, Meghalaya and Directorate of Health Services, Meghalaya.

The inaugural function was graced with the august presence of the Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice Sanjib Banerjee as the Chief Guest. Also present were the Judge, High Court of Meghalaya Mr. Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew, Judge, High Court of Meghalaya, Mr. Justice W Diengdoh, Commissioner and Secretary, Social Welfare, Mr. Sampath Kumar, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Meghalaya, Mr. Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor, Mr. B D R Tiwari, Commissioner and Secretary, Education, Director of Social Welfare, Meghalaya, Mr. D D Shira, Director of Health Services, Meghalaya, Dr. H Lyndem, District Judges, representatives from SJPC, DCPU, State run Training Institutions, Shelter Homes among others.

Sexual offence to women and children is offence to Society and unless we come down with a heavy hand, there will be no freedom to women, said the Chief Justice, High Court of Meghalaya in his inaugural address. While India is celebrating 75 years of its Independence with great fanfare, we as citizens still deny the basic freedom to women and children, he said. Informing that the carving of the POCSO Act, 2012 is due to the inadequacy of the Indian Penal Code to effectively address and counter heinous crimes such as sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, he said that the increase in the reporting of sexual crimes against children since the enactment of the Act is indeed very encouraging. While informing that 80 percent of the criminal appeals are related to POCSO, the Chief Justice said that the time has come for us to wake up and recognise the rights of women and children and called upon citizens to ensure that women and children enjoy the same freedom that menfolk enjoy in public spaces.

Mr. Justice H S Thangkhiew in his opening remarks said that 10 years since the implementation of POCSO Act 2012, the time has come for all concerned stakeholders to discuss and review the issues related to POSCO Act to identify good practices and addressed those areas that needs to be re evaluated. Stating that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act POCSO, 2012 is the most effective tool to combat crimes against children, Justice Thangkhiew said that the stakeholders and guardians of the law need to take a proactive role to ensure that child’s rights are protected in letter and spirit.

The Consultation programme deliberated on the topics of Rehabilitation and Reintegration of POCSO Survivors and Preventive Measures, Practices, Gaps and Opportunities, Child friendly Court Procedures During Prosecution for POCSO Survivors Practices, Gaps and Opportunitites, Investigation of Cases under POCSO role of Medical Officer, Special Public Prosecutors, Probation Officer and Support Person and Building Capacity of Functionaries under POCSO Act and the Role of State Run Training Institutions.

Press Release No. 432/22

DISTRIBUTION OF PES CHEQUE TO 49 COMMUNITIES IN RI BHOI DISTRICT

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Government of India Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited Ri Bhoi District today the 4th November and chaired the review meeting on Aspirational District Programme at Conference Hall DC’s Office, Nongpoh in the midst presence of Deputy Commissioner Ri Bhoi District Shri Arpit Upadhyay IAS, Shri Syed Md.Andaleeb Razi, IRTS, Commissioner and Secy Forest Environment, AH and Vety Dept, Shri Joram Beda, IAS Member Secy SCSTE, Shri Uday Chaudhari IAS, PA to Union Minister, Shri Gunanka DB, IFS, Shri Rajive Yadav, Chairman Bramaputra Board, Shri Giri Prasad IPS, Superintendent of Police, Shri M.B Tongper MCS, ADC, Shri B.J Kharshandy, MCS, ADC and officials from different line departments to review on developmental works undertaking for Ri Bhoi Aspirational District on various key indicators.

In the review meeting, power point presentations have been brief over by the Deputy Commissioner on the progress of works done for different key indicators such as health and nutrition, education, agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary, Rural Development, infrastructure etc being carried out under Aspirational District Programme. Later, the Minister proceeded to District Library Auditorium Hall for attending as the chief guest on the programme of distribution of Green Cheque to communities under Payment Ecosystem Services. About 49 communities from different locations of the district have been received cheques under the scheme.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister expressed his happiness to associate himself with the residents of the district through interaction session, he said that Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi aimed to bring a change in the life of people of the country particularly for those living in rural areas, during his tenure, he has taken many initiatives to ensure for the standard of living of the people particularly poor families, therefore, the central government under his leadership, has started with initiative financial inclusive, in which citizens will be having bank account for all benefited schemes granted by the government to be directly transfer the money into their account, many other schemes such as gas cylinder connection to every eligible citizens, electrifying connection to every households in the country, pure and safety drinking water tap connection to every households through Jal Jeevan Mission, and many other benefited and developmental schemes to promote the socio economic lives of the people. Besides all these developmental effort that citizens have been received, he adding that it is also the need of the hour that people should understand the importance and value of the environment. He lauded and appreciated the villagers for their response towards the PES scheme for preservation of forest cover and its surroundings. He said that collective efforts of communities will undoubtedly ends our challenges. Hence he sought the cooperation and support of the residents of the district to conserve the natural environment for preserving the rivers, stream and other water bodies so as to enable them to handing the same for the next coming generation.

The day concluded with the handling of cheque to 49 groups from different villages of the district by the Union Minister.