Plea to include children in rice distribution during the Covid-19 pandemic

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, March 30, 2020: Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has appealed to all concerned  to cover every child in the state while distributing rice or other food items during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The appeal came up following a directive passed on Monday by Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC).

The MHRC directed  the concerned authorities of state’s  social welfare department and education department (SSA) to provide  the entitled food grains  along with  sanitary items to the children, who were enrolled as beneficiaries of national flagship schemes such as  ICPS, ICDS and Midday Meal schemes,  so that children are not suffered any food crisis during the ongoing  21 days nationwide lockdown placed in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“MACR is very grateful to MHRC for passing a landmark directive upon a complaint case (MHRC Case No. 41 of 2020) filed by MACR,” said MACR covener Montu Ahanthem in a statement released on Monday.

On March 28, Keisam Pradipkumar, executive member of MACR, filed a complaint case to MHRC on behalf of the alliance, drawing the immediate attention of the state’s human rughts body to intervene the miserable conditions of many children as a result of the ongoing nationwide lockdown.  The directives of MHRC covers all the children who are living in different child care institutions (children’s home, shelter homes, observation and special homes, place of safety, state adoption centres) under ICPS scheme, all the young children who are entitled to “Ready to Eat” food items under ICDS  scheme, and  children of  government and aided schools across the state,  who are entitled to get Midday Meal provision, the release said.

The petitioner requested to provide the entitled food grains to the children on home delivery system.  The acting chairperson of  MHRC Khaidem Mani   notified  three weeks times to the heads of concerned departments to submit the action taken reports to the commission, it added.

MACR appeals not to exclude children from the items distribution on the  ‘inexplicable’ matter that he/she is not enrolled in the voters’ list.