States to pitch in with translators for kids

The women and child development department has started receiving positive response from a number of states in providing translators and interpreters to help speed up court cases of children who are unable to communicate in Hindi or English. Neelam Pandey reports.

The women and child development department has started receiving positive response from a number of states in providing translators and interpreters to help speed up court cases of children who are unable to communicate in Hindi or English.

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Officials said they had received communication from a number of state resident commissioners’ offices nominating one person who will act as a translator/interpreter to help the child in recording police statements as well as during court hearings.

“We have received positive response from a few states such as the north-eastern states and West Bengal who have expressed willingness to assign a person from their department for this purpose. We are preparing a list of these persons and it will be circulated to all the child welfare committees for information,” said a senior Delhi government official.

The department decided to personally send their staff to all the resident commissioners’ offices and discuss the matter.

On March 18, HT had highlighted the plight of children who are victims of physical and sexual assault and whose court cases continue to pile up owing to the language barrier.

Officials said state resident commissioners have raised a few queries regarding the amount to be paid to the translators.

“A proposal has been prepared wherein it has been decided to provide R1,000 per day to the translators. However, many have pointed out that it is too low an amount,” he added.