Advocay with State & Media

Advocating with Legislature

On 24th August, 2006 Mr. Nikhil Verma & Mr. Vikram Srivastava attended the National Consultation on Draft ICPS (Integerated Child Protection Scheme). Though it was a separate issue altogether however the issue mentioned here was also raised as part of the concern. It was well debated within the team and the state government representatives raised objections to the recent notification as once Child labours are identified then they become subject under the ministry of women and child, which lacks resources. So there was a abandoning of children from all ministries. With no convergence within different ministries at both state and central level and also no convergence within same ministry at centre and state level, the conflict of interest and shifting of burden was in open. No one from the government had any clue as to what has to be done after 10th October, when the notification becomes a law.
· On 5th September, 2006 Mr. MM Vidhyarthi, Mr. Vikram Dutt and Mr. Vikram Srivastava met Shri Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Culture, with additional charge as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and submitted a Memorandum on behalf of QIC&AC Delhi Core Group. The memorandum mentions in details the fears that the QIC&AC Delhi Core Group carries and also pointed out the earlier Supreme Court directions on the issue. He was positive to our concerns and did mark the memorandum to be discussed with the Prime Minster, Mr. Manmohan Singh.

Involving the Media

From the day of notification all members of the QIC&AC Delhi Core Group were receiving media requests for their reactions on the issue and at all the forums the group members expressed similar concerns. Communications CRY provided us with strategic support. Few such media interactions were;
· Hindustan Times published interview of Mr. MM Vidhyarthi on 2nd August 2006
· CNN-IBN telecasted interview of Vikram Srivastava on 2nd August 2006
· Prabhat Khabbar published Article by Vikram Srivastava on 6th August 2006
· Doordarshan telecasted a panel discussion in which Dr. Bharti Sharma, Mr. Sanjay Gupta and Mr. Subhash Bhatnagar participated on 22nd August 2006
· NDTV 24X7 telecasted interview of Vikram Srivastava on 10th September 2006
· FM Rainbow 102.6 Mhz broadcasted interview of Dr. Bharti Sharma on 20th September 2006
· Proposed Media Consultation as budgeted in the year 2006-07 plan (lack of funds has restricted us from acting fast)

Advocating with Administrative Machinery

· Mr. MM Vidhyarthi held a meeting with Mr. Raj Mohan, Additional Commissioner, and MCD with various additional charges and briefed him about the need for planning to tackle the crisis. He acknowledged the situation and assured help. For making things more concrete;

· A meeting has been fixed for 8th or 9th September 2006 with Mr. Farhad Suri, Mayor, MCD for formulating strategies to tackle the crisis of shelter, rehabilitation and restoration of children, who will be needing care and protection after coming in effect of the Notification prohibiting employment of children as domestic servants or servants or in Dhabas (roadside eateries), restaurants, hotels, motels, teashops, resorts, spas or in other recreational centres. Mayor’s instructions and orders will get implemented through MCD and other bodies. Proposed meeting with CWC members in Delhi on the issue (lack of funds has restricted us from acting fast)

Sharing / Broad Basing

QIC&AC shared its views on child rights with Departments of Social Work, National Institute of Public Operation and Child Development, National Social Service (NSS) units of School, Department of Youths and Sports, Chatrshal Stadium, Govt of Delhi. All has principally agreed to collaborate and support the issues related to children taken up by QIC&AC Delhi. The idea was also shared with State Liaison Officer of ADE to take the QIC&AC agenda in Schools, Colleges, Nehru Yuva Kendras and Youth clubs. Contacts have also been established with other organisations, 40 NGO’s participating in Stree Shakti Programmes, Delhi Legal Aid Society, Licensed Institutions and other like-minded NGO’s. Decisions regarding their membership are in process of finalization. Dr. Kanta Rehman, Institute of Human Rights, New Delhi, has agreed to send volunteers who are doing Course on Human Rights from this institute to work for QIC&AC.

Aftermath of Nithari Incidence :

QIC&AC Delhi invited QIC&AC – Uttar Pradesh to jointly take up the Nithari Incidence. The joint meeting was held in Delhi and after serious deliberation a charter of demands and condemnation letter was prepared. Formalization of Charter of demands was done jointly by subgroup and after meeting a small joint team of members from Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Core group visited the Nithari Village. A joint sub-committee was formed to follow up action. The QIC&AC Delhi and Uttar Pradesh team decided to form a Committee, and decided to work towards the issue of children and continues stay in touch with the regular meetings. The demand letter was sent to Chief Minister of U.P, leader of Opposition, Governor and speakers as well as to all members of Parliamentary Forum on children. A letter has also been sent to the newly elected Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh requesting to start at least one Govt. run Children Home with capacity of 100 children in NOIDA (Uttar Pradesh) for Care and Protection of neglected children and constitute one Child Welfare Committee under Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act 2000/2006 to address the issue of Child protection in NCR Region and the same copy was send to Mr. Indarjit Saroj, Hon’able Minister of Social Welfare, Uttar Pradesh and the reply is awaiting.