The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) along with the School Education Department organized a state-wide conference on key issues of child rights focusing on education, health, Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act here on Monday.
In his speech, NCPCR Member Secretary Sanjeev Sharma highlighted the urgent need to address children’s mental health and said schools must play a central role in addressing the growing mental health issues.
Violations of children’s rights are not just statistics, but stories that affect the lives of individuals and the future of the nation, he said. Explaining NCPCR’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity through workshops and training, he disclosed that over 26,000 cases have been disposed of, around 2,800 children rescued and about 1,800 repatriated to child welfare institutions in their home districts in the last six months.
He shed light on NCPCR initiatives such as the development of an AI-driven mechanism to identify child sexual abuse material (CSAM), support for children who remain with their mothers in prisons, protecting the rights of transgender children and promoting healthy lifestyles in schools through the ‘sugar board’ initiative to combat childhood obesity. He urged the Telangana government and SCPCR to issue recommendations encouraging adoption of the model across the state.
According to SCPCR Chairperson K. Seetha Dayakar Reddy, there is a need for collective responsibility across departments and greater sensitivity towards children at all levels. Strong convergence between ministries and various stakeholders is a must for more effective enforcement of child rights legislation, she said.
The technical sessions covered topics such as the school’s responsibility to ensure child safety, health and mental health issues including childhood obesity, barriers to implementation under the POCSO Act, gaps in youth justice infrastructure and capacity, and a police-led hands-on safety simulation.
The conference came up with a set of recommendations, including training for teachers and staff, strengthening child protection committees, juvenile justice committees and aftercare services, integrating Track-Child with police databases, reducing underreporting of child sex crimes, trauma-informed counseling, regular school safety audits and simulated safety drills.
Published – 24 Nov 2025 20:36 IST
