Press release:

Senapati: 21 May 2024

The Senapati district Police in collaboration with Project Mukti organized a one-day “Consultative workshop of law enforcement agencies, service providers, and NGOs to effectively address Child safety and Human Trafficking” on 22nd May 2024. The workshop saw active participation from 41 key stakeholders including Add. Superintendent of Police, Investigation Officers, representatives from NGOs, Child Care Institutions and Special Adoption Agency, Senapati District Women’s Association, Senapati District Students Association, CWC, DCPU, and the One-stop Crisis  Centre, attended the workshop.  

Ms. Anupam, IPS, SP of Senapati District, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the collective responsibility in child protection and combating human trafficking. She highlighted the rise in cases of missing children and women abuse reported over the past year, stressing the critical importance of child safety, especially on social media platforms. Ms. Anupam expressed hope that the workshop would significantly raise awareness, creating a child-friendly environment within the district. She also addressed safety issues in schools and colleges, exploitation in hotels and pubs, and alarming statistics, including a 27% suicide rate among teens due to cybercrime and 60% of teens experiencing cyberbullying.

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion featuring four distinguished panelists – Mr. Peter Rangnamei, Director of MANEDA,  Mr. Thangkhochon Haokip, MPS, Add. SP of Senapati, Mrs Koshina Mao, Public Prosecutor, D & S Court Senapati, and Miss Chingpai Rangnamei, DCPO of Senapati. Mr. Rangnamei, MANEDA, spoke about the importance of intervening in cases of child sexual abuse and human trafficking. Mr Haokip, Add. SP, discussed various legal provisions within the Indian Judiciary System. Mrs Mao, PP, focused on POCSO cases in the context of Senapati District. Miss Rangnamei, DCPO elaborated on the services available under Mission Vatsalya. All the participants engaged in fruitful discussions and interactions facilitated by the panelists. Three key decisions were unanimously taken during the workshop. 1. Crimes against women and children must be reported to the relevant authorities and not be settled through customary laws 2. Attendees were made aware of the need to maximize the effective use of available services for the victims. 3. Follow-up meetings to be organized semi-annually, with the next meeting being organized by the District Legal Services Authorities and the Police Department.

The workshop effectively underscored the necessity for inter-organizational and inter-departmental collaboration to ensure the safety and protection of children and to combat human trafficking in Senapati District.

(Except the headline may have been modified by Times of Senapati. Contents are original and official press release).