Panel that protects children against trafficking is headless

As the police and NGOs are cracking down on the illegal placement agencies, rescuing children and chasing trafficking rings, a Delhi government body to deal with such issues has been headless for the past seven months. Mallica Joshi reports.

As the police and NGOs are cracking down on the illegal placement agencies, rescuing children and chasing trafficking rings, a Delhi government body to deal with such issues has been headless for the past seven months.

The Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) has been looking to fill the post of the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) but has failed.

HT Image

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/Popup/2012/4/06_04_pg2c.jpg

Apart from being headless, the commission is functioning with just one permanent member for the past one month as the tenure of other members have expired. "The commission is a very important body as it has the power to enquire and recommend cases to higher courts. It is a powerful organisation that should be completely functional," said a member of Pratidhi, an NGO that has filed an RTI in the matter.

The Hindustan Times, in January this year, reported how the body was headless during nursery admissions, a crucial time for the panel.

"The secretary of the Department of Women and Child Development is currently holding additional charge of DCPCR. We did not get suitable candidates the first time and we were forced to bring out an advertisement again. We have received some applications already and hope that we will be able to select someone this time around. As for the other members, their names have been finalised and will be announced after April 15," said Kiran Walia, women and child development minister, Delhi government.