LONGDING, 30 Jun: Cherry blossom saplings were distributed and a child helpline number was unveiled during a joint event held here on Monday.
The sapling distribution plan for town beautification was spearheaded by Longding-Pumao MLA Thangwang Wangham and Longding Deputy Commissioner Kunal Yadav, in collaboration with the Horticulture Department.
Simultaneously, the unveiling of the child helpline number was organised by the District Child Protection Task Force.
Drawing parallels between the two events, the MLAhighlighted how today’s actions sow the seeds of a better tomorrow, stressing the importance and future implications of the distribution of the saplings and the unveiling of the helpline number.
On a separate note, he apprised the public that a proposal for recognition of Longding as a water-stressed district has been raised with the government. Speaking on the significance of exploring water rejuvenation measures to create water-banks in the district, he urged the public to adopt proper land use practices, and to “maintain adequate vegetation in order to conserve the watershed areas.”
The MLA urged the gathering to nurture the saplingsand ensure their successful growth.
Addressing the gathering, advocate Wangtan Wangsuspoke at length about various legal provisions related to child exploitation, including child labour, child trafficking, and child sexual abuse.
Speaking on the differences between an ‘FIR’ and a ‘complaint’, he informed the gathering of various forms of conduct, both physical and verbal, that legally fall within the ambit of ‘sexual harassment’. Legal mechanisms under the POCSO Act and relevant compensation provisions were also mentioned.
He spoke also on the roles and responsibilities of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) under the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) 2015, which is the primary legal authority to handle and resolve cases concerning children who are abandoned, orphaned, abused, or lost.
Mentioning the role of the Police Department in case registration and investigation, Longding SP Dekio Gumja assured of confidentiality of the victim’s identity in all such cases. He urged the community to gather contact details of those working outside the district, in possibly vulnerable conditions, and share them with the department through their respective gram panchayat chairpersons, so that the Police Department may reach out to them for counselling to ensure their safety.
He assured that the helpline number is available24x7.
Highlighting the psychological helplessness a child may experience in raising their voice against exploitation, the DC informed that the helpline number allows anyone aware of such a situation to raise a complaint while maintaining their anonymity.
He also apprised the public of potential reward/incentive for genuine complaints leading to successful action, while also warning against any frivolous and false complaint made with malicious intent.
He also urged the community to turn their voices into meaningful actions, so that the fight against child exploitation is built on tangible community actions.
On the beautification of Longding town, he appealed to every person to take ownership and patiently nurture the plants’ growth with utmost care.
Horticulture Development Officer Jaman Rangkham gave technical guidance to the public on the dos & don’ts of nurturing the plants.
The event saw the participation of heads of various departments, armed forces and people from various walks of life. (DIPRO)
