ACHR highlights 630 cases of child sexual abuse in Mizoram between 2003-2009

New Delhi, Feb 28 : The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) while releasing its report titled "State of Juvenile Justice in Mizoram" today stated that there is an alarming increase in child abuse as well as juvenile delinquency in Mizoram, but the state government is not sincere in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2000. Although the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act has been enacted more than a decade ago, the statutory support services namely the Juvenile Justice Boards and the Child Welfare Committees in Mizoram have been set up in all the eight districts only during 2010-11.

Sexual abuse of children remains high. A study commissioned by the Social Welfare Department of Mizoram government and released in October 2012 recorded 630 cases of child sexual abuse during the period of 2003 to 2009.

It is clear that children are not safe anywhere in the state as most cases of child sexual abuse were committed by relatives, friends and teachers of the victims.

Juvenile delinquency remains equally high. During the last decade from 2002 to 2011, the National Crime Records Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs recorded a total of 1,699 cases of "juvenile delinquency" in Mizoram. These include 1,258 cases registered under the Indian Penal Code and 441 cases under the Special and Local Laws.

"Mizoram has failed miserably in providing institutional care. The lack of separate Special Home and the poor facilities in the existing Observation Home-cum-Special Homes at Aizawl and Lunglei, overcrowding, lack of segregation of the juveniles on the basis of the nature of their crimes severely undermine the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act", stated Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

The Observation Home-cum-Special Home at Lunglei is overcrowded and facilities are poor. The Home has a capacity to house only 10 inmates (boys only). The Officer-in-Charge took the initiative of adding 4 extra beds for the inmates as sometimes number of inmate increases beyond the capacity. However, many a times the inmates exceeded 14 and in such situations the inmates had to sleep on the floor.

Ironically, Mizoram government has failed to utilize the grants under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) provided by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. On 6 July 2012, Mizoram informed the Project Approval Board under ICPS that Rs 75.25 lakhs was lying unspent from the grants of 2011-12. Further, the State government informed that it had received construction grant for 2 Government Homes in 2011 but this grant was still unutilized.

There are 28 recognized Children Homes in Mizoram and almost all of them are either privately owned or run by faith based organizations. As majority of the Children Homes are run through charity and children are admitted without the consent of the Child Welfare Committees, the lack of supervision by the state government is responsible for poor conditions of the Children Homes. The First Step Children Home, Aizawl is inhospitable for small children and the Home's authorities have decided to close it down but the state government is yet to take a decision about it.

Children are subjected to abuse and torture in many of the Homes. On 13 July 2009, a 13-year-old child identified as Lalnunpuia, son of Rinsanga of Chaltlang Lily in Aizawl, was beaten to death by the officials at the Herald for Christ's Children Home, a government recognized Children Home at Lungleng, about 15 kms north of Aizawl.

"The NHRC has awarded compensation of Rs 300,000 to the mother of Lalnunpuia based on the complaint filed by Asian Centre for Human Rights http://www.nhrc.nic.in/display.asp) but the particular murder shows the violence against children who require the outmost care"- further stated Mr. Chakma.

Asian Centre for Human Rights recommended to the Mizoram government to establish the new Special and Observation Homes sanctioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in the districts not having such homes; separate the Observation Homes and Special Homes at Aizawl and Lunglei; ensure judicial utilization of funds within the financial year; implement the recommendations made by the PAB under ICPS to establish more Observation Homes, Special Homes, Children Homes, and Shelter Homes and improve facilities at the Homes; ensure segregation of juveniles and children as per age and nature of offences; provide educational and vocational training facilities both within and outside the Homes and tie up with vocational training institutes; appoint adequate number of staff, including the Warden at the Observation Home-Cum-Special Home at Aizawl, and staff at three Shelter Homes at Aizawl, Mamit and Champhai; improve the functioning of the JJBs and CWCs through proper selection of the members and imparting adequate training; reduce the number of pendency cases both at JJBs and CWCs by increasing the number of sittings; and ensure regular inspections including surprise visits to all the juvenile justice and are institutions, whether run by government or private entities.

READ MORE - ACHR highlights 630 cases of child sexual abuse in Mizoram between 2003-2009

CCTVs for Aizawl security

Silchar, Feb 28 : The Union home ministry had decided to fund a surveillance scheme to bring the entire capital city of Aizawl under the ambit of closed circuit TV (CCTV) in a bid to zero in on perpetrators of crimes, including terror strikes.

A senior home department official of the Mizoram government said the cost of this project is estimated at Rs 13 crore, and the final survey for the installation of this round-the-clock surveillance device was carried out by a team of senior officials of the Union home ministry’s directorate of co-ordination, police wireless.

The official said in the first phase, 33 locations across Aizawl have been identified for the installation. Sources added that the hilltop city of Aizawl will be the first in the Northeast where such surveillance CCTV sets would be set up.

According to the plan, the devices would be put up in places like the state secretariat, Assembly, all the police stations inside Aizawl and on major roads. The main control room will be built in Aizawl. Under it, four sub-control rooms will also be built in four different corners of the city to keep strict vigil.

The work to install the surveillance appliances is expected to be completed by December this year. David H. Lalthnagliana, the officer on special duty from the state home department, hoped that this move in Aizawl would be a role model for other cities in the country as well.

READ MORE - CCTVs for Aizawl security

NGO slams Mizoram on child safety - Demand for accountability

Guwahati, Feb. 28 : A New Delhi-based NGO, Asian Centre for Human Rights, today criticised the Mizoram government for poor juvenile justice system with the state reporting increasing incidents of child sexual abuse and juvenile delinquency.

The NGO today released its report on “State of Juvenile Justice in Mizoram”, which stated that the state reported 630 cases of child sexual abuse between 2003 and 2009 but the state government was not sincere in incorporating facilities for protection of children under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. Although the act was enacted in 2000, the statutory support services, namely the juvenile justice boards and child welfare committees in Mizoram, have been set in all the eight districts only during 2010-11.

The NGO demanded setting up of more shelter and care homes and proper utilisation of central funds to ensure safety and protection of children in the state.

“Sexual abuse of children remains high in Mizoram. The report compiled by the state social welfare department showed that children are not safe in the state, as most cases of child sexual abuse were committed by relatives, friends and teachers of the victims. The state has also reported increase in juvenile delinquency and according to National Crime Records Bureau, between 2002 and 2011, Mizoram recorded a total of 1,699 cases of juvenile delinquency. These include 1,258 cases registered under the IPC and 441 cases under special and local laws,” NGO director Suhas Chakma said.

“Mizoram has failed miserably in providing institutional care. The lack of separate special home and the poor facilities in the existing observation home-cum-special homes at Aizawl and Lunglei, overcrowding, lack of segregation of the juveniles on the basis of the nature of their crimes severely undermine the act,” Chakma said.

He said the observation home-cum-special home at Lunglei is overcrowded and facilities are poor. “The home has a capacity to house only 10 inmates (boys only). However, many a times the inmates exceeded 14 and in such situations they had to sleep on the floor. Ironically, the Mizoram government has failed to utilise the grants under Integrated Child Protection Scheme provided by the ministry of women and child development. Besides, monitoring of the 28 recognised children homes run by private owners or religious institutions was not proper and children are admitted without the consent of the child welfare committees, mandatory under the act,” Chakma said.

The NGO demanded the establishment of special observation homes in districts, separate observation and special homes in Aizawl and Lunglei and proper utilisation of fun-ds within the financial year to improve the juvenile justice system.

READ MORE - NGO slams Mizoram on child safety - Demand for accountability

Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Scheme launched in Mizoram

Aizawl, Feb 27:  

Mizoram Chief Secretary on Wednesday launched the statewide Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Scheme (WIFS) for youth, an official statement said.

The main objective of the WIFS was reduction of anaemia. There were 56 per cent young females and 30.2 per cent males suffering from anaemia in the country, the statement said.

All students of upper primary to higher secondary schools, including government-aided schools and dropouts would be provided the iron tablets every week under the programme through anganwadis.

They would also be provided Albendazole, an anti-worm drug in February and August annually, the statement said, adding that Mizoram was the first north eastern state to launch the programme.

READ MORE - Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Scheme launched in Mizoram

Mizoram CM seeks Sonia's help to tackle financial crisis

 Aizawl, Feb 25 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has sought UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's intervention to help the state tide over a financial crisis.

Thanhawla held an hour-long meeting with Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi Friday and apprised her about the state's financial problems, an official of the chief minister's secretariat told reporters Saturday.

The state government had earlier submitted a proposal to central government seeking Rs.500 crore for payment of increased salaries to its employees after the implementation of sixth pay commission recommendations.

According to the official, Thanhawla also apprised the Congress chief about political developments in the mountainous state.

He also requested Sonia Gandhi to extend her support on the proposal to increase posts of Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service officers in Mizoram.

The Congress-ruled northeastern state, which shares 318 km with Bangladesh and 404 km with Myanmar, will go to the polls later this year.

READ MORE - Mizoram CM seeks Sonia's help to tackle financial crisis

Assam wants to hold talks on border disputes

Aizawl: Assam Minister for Border Areas Siddique Ahmed Thursday informed Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla that the state wished to hold talks on the border disputes between the two neighbouring states in a phased manner.

An official statement said that Ahmed, who met Lal Thanhawla in the Mizoram House in Guwahati, also appealed to the chief minister to make arrangements for providing raw materials for running the Cachar Paper Mill in Panchgram.

He expressed wish that Mizoram should have better relationship with his native Karmganj district, it said.

Lal Thanhawla urged Ahmed to solve the problems triggered by Cachar district forest department officials who used to forcibly confiscate teak timber meant for export outside the state which prompted the timber traders to export teak via Tripura.

Ahmed promised to take up the matter with the Cachar Divisional Forest Officer, the statement added.

READ MORE - Assam wants to hold talks on border disputes

Puducherry Chief Secretary shunted to Mizoram

In a sudden development, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has shunted Chief Secretary of Puducherry M. Sathiavathy to Mizoram.

The transfer order came a day before the start of the 2nd conference of All India N. R Congress, where the Chief Minister N. Rangasamy is expected to break his silence over the “innumerable troubles” his erstwhile colleagues from the Congress gave him during the last two years of his rule.

One-line order

The single line order dated 18.02.2013 issued by the MHA (a copy of which is available with The Hindu) said that she has been transferred to Mizoram with immediate effect.

It has asked the Lieutenant Governor’s office to take steps to relieve her immediately.

The order signed by Manas Mandal, Section Officer, MHA, has been sent to Ms. Sathiavathy, LG’s office and the Chief Secretary of Mizoram. However, there was no mention about her posting there.

The order was also silent about the reason for the sudden transfer. Similarly, there was no information about the new Chief Secretary for Puducherry.

Analysts felt that the unceremonious transfer of Ms. Sathiavathy, a 1982 AGMU cadre IAS Officer, was a fallout of the controversy over the transfer of Development Commissioner Rajiv Yaduvanshi from Finance to Commerce & Industries.

This was promptly declared illegal by the MHA stating that the Puducherry Government didn’t follow the business rules while transferring the super timescale officer.

Sources said the MHA, which directly controls the Union Territories, transferred her as she failed to comply with the direction on reinstating Mr. Yaduvanshi in spite of reminders and a one on one telephonic interaction.

The issue came out in open when Mr. Yaduvanshi was called to attend a meeting in New Delhi recently in his capacity as the Finance Secretary of Puducherry, signalling that the Centre will not recognise the appointment of W.V.R. Murthy as Finance Secretary.

‘Erroneous’

Sources in Puducherry Government said it was erroneous on the part of the Centre to dictate to the elected government on transferring an official citing business rules framed about 50 years ago.

Had the Centre felt unhappy over the appointment it could have asked the administration not to repeat the mistake.

A source close to Mr. Rangasamy said that he was being victimised as he was not falling in line with the “diktats” of the Congress on merging the AINRC with the parent party. Had it been a Congress rule, the issue wouldn’t have been raised at all.

READ MORE - Puducherry Chief Secretary shunted to Mizoram

Mizoram Assembly Budget session from Mar 12 to Apr

Aizawl: Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Mizoram legislature on Tuesday decided that the budget session of the assembly summoned by the state Governor Vakkom Purushothaman to commence from March 12 would continue till April three, assembly secretary Ngurthanzuala said.

Ngurthanzual said that the BAC, which held a meeting here under the chairmanship of Speaker R. Romawia to chalk out the detailed programme of the session also decided that the Governor would deliver his customary gubernatorial address on March 12, the first day of the session and the motion of thanks on the Governor's address would be deliberated on March 13.

The state annual budget for 2013-2014 would be presented in the legislature by the Finance minister H Liansailova on March 15 and the House was scheduled to approve the budget by March 28, he added.

Meanwhile, state Finance department officials said that Liansailova would present the full state budget even as the Planning Commission was yet to allocate the state annual plan outlay for the next fiscal.

The increase in the plan outlay would be appropriated and incorporated in the second supplementary demands for grants to be again presented in the assembly during the course of the financial year, the officials said.

READ MORE - Mizoram Assembly Budget session from Mar 12 to Apr

Mizoram Bru forum brings repatriation issue to talks table

AIZAWL: The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) led by A Sawibung has finally succeeded in bringing the issue of repatriation of Bru refugees from Tripura relief camps to Mizoram on the negotiating table with the state government.

Bruno Msha, general secretary of the Naisingpara camp-based MBDPF, said they received a letter from the state home department for talks to be held on February 21 in Aizawl to deliberate on the impasse on the repatriation of refugees.

"We discussed the invitation of the state government in the relief camps and agreed to hold talks with the government as we do not want to stay in Tripura relief camps forever," Msha said. He dismissed charges that MBDPF leaders were stalling the repatriation process and not willing to return to Mizoram as they were leading luxurious lives in the camps.

He said the delegation of Bru refugees will include top MBDPF leaders and youth leaders. A pastor and an elderly person from the church will also be invited. The MBDPF has submitted their demands to former Union home minister P Chidambaram and the present home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, he said, adding that the demands included extension of the period of providing free ration from one year to two years, Rs 1.5 lakh for each family for rehabilitation, resettlement of 40 to 50 families and a school, playground and hall for Bru children.

Msha said the conditions in the seven relief camps in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura district worsened in the last few months and they were facing acute water scarcity and healthcare problems. "When we asked the Tripura government for help, they refused to help us and instead told us that if they treated us so well by providing basic amenities, we would never leave their land," he said.

Many people were suffering from malaria; endemic gastro-enteritis also caused serious problems in the camps, killing many children, he said and added that the doctors' who used to visit them in an interval of two weeks earlier did not visit them for five consecutive months.

The Bru leader also complained that while they were to receive 600 grams of rice per adult and 300 grams per minor for a day, they were receiving around 300 grams to 400 grams per day due to shortage.

READ MORE - Mizoram Bru forum brings repatriation issue to talks table

Groups welcome SC order

Aizawl, Feb 14 : Anti-corruption groups in Mizoram have welcomed the recent Supreme Court order dismissing the state government’s plea to stop the CBI investigation into a PWD financial scam.

In 2010, Gauhati High Court had allowed a CBI inquiry into the allegations made through a PIL filed by the Society for Social Action (SOSA), an anti-corruption group. But as the CBI investigations were almost completed, the state government had petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the inquiry alleging that the affidavits were false.

The Supreme Court told the Mizoram government’s lawyers in the latest hearing on February 8 that “you should be happy that the investigations will prove the allegations to be false” and rejected their plea.

If the allegations are proved, many top engineers and even the then chief minister Zoramthanga are likely to be directly implicated.

The president of the Society for Social Action (SOSA), Sailova Sailo, told The Telegraph, “We are delighted that the Supreme Court has dismissed the government’s petition and the CBI inquiry can continue now.”

He said the group had filed the PIL seeking CBI inquiry into the misuse of Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) funds during 2000-05. The PIL said the PWD had fraudulently “spent” crores of rupees on existing roads, which were shown in official documents as “new” roads.

“I was the director of transport and I vouch for the fact that we already had Mizoram state transport buses plying on these roads shown as ‘new’ by the PWD during that period,” F. Hmingthanga, a retired Mizoram Civil Service officer, and general secretary of the group said.

“Why should the present Congress government, which came to power in 2008 on the manifesto that they would pursue all these scams, move the Supreme Court to stop the CBI inquiry when it was the previous government which would be implicated?” asked Sailo.

He said if the government in power were true to the public they would not have tried to stop the CBI inquiry. “These parties are all in it together to cheat the public,” he said.

The group also questioned why the government played favourites while suspending their officials facing anti-corruption inquiries. “The government has so far refused to suspend the PWD engineers in this present case and several other inquiries,” it said.

READ MORE - Groups welcome SC order

Electioneering picks up in Mizoram bypoll

AIZAWL: With only nine days left for campaigning, electioneering has picked up for the by-poll to Chalfilh assembly seat in Mizoram to be held on February 23.

The ruling Congress nominee Dr Ngurdingliana began the second phase of campaigning from yesterday with ruling legislators and senior party leaders reaching different villages in the constituency yesterday.

More Congress leaders and legislators today left Aizawl for the constituency even as almost all the villages have been covered already.

The main opposition, Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate Lalvenhima Hmar also continued his campaign which he began just after the scrutiny of the nomination papers were conducted.

Besides top MNF leaders canvassing in the seat, groups led by party chief Zoramthanga, Senior Vice President Tawnluia, Vice President R Tlanghmingthanga and the lone Rajya Sabha member Lalhming Liana would begin the campaign from this week, MNF sources said.

READ MORE - Electioneering picks up in Mizoram bypoll

5 nominations till now for Feb 23 bypoll in Mizoram

With Dr Ngurdingliana, the official candidate of the ruling Congress filing his nomination on Tuesday, five candidates are in the fray till now for the by-election to the Chalfilh Assembly seat in Mizoram on February 23.

Returning Officer for the bypoll, A Biaklawma said Ngurdingliana submitted his nomination papers during the day, while Zoram Nationalist Party candidate C. Lalchhandama could not file his nominations as he reached the RO's office late.

Those who filed nominations earlier were Lalvenhima Hmar of the Opposition Mizo National Front, Lalhmangaiha Sailo of the Mizoram People's Conference, C. Ramkinlova of the BJP and lone independent Lalrohlua.

READ MORE - 5 nominations till now for Feb 23 bypoll in Mizoram

Lalthanhawla calls for swift justice in crime against women

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today said that swift delivery of justice to the perpetrators of crime against woman was the need of the hour and delayed justice could encourage commission of this horrible crime.

Addressing the seminar on 'Rape and Human Trafficking' jointly organised at the Aijal Club here by the State Commission for Women and the National Commission for Women, Lal Thanhawla lamented that there was high pendency of rape cases in the state and the increase in rape of minors have become alarming.

He said that many rape cases, especially in the rural areas, remained unreported and those reported were also not being pursued satisfactorily by the law enforcement agencies.

The seminar was attended among others by Wansuk Syiem, member of the National Commission for Women in charge of the north east.

READ MORE - Lalthanhawla calls for swift justice in crime against women

Congress announces candidate for Mizoram by-polls

Aizawl: The ruling Congress on Friday announced that Dr. H. Ngurdingliana would be the party's official candidate for the coming by-election to the Chalfilh assembly seat scheduled to be held on February 23.

Mr Ngurdingliana, son of veteran Congress leader and former state assembly Speaker Dr H. Thansanga had contested unsuccessfully in 2008 from the same constituency.

With the announcement of its candidate by the Congress, all the major political parties have announced their nominees for the coming by-poll.

The main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate was Lalvenhima Hmar, while the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) nominated its president Lalhmangaiha Sailo, son of the former chief minister and founder president of the party Brig. T. Sailo.

The Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) candidate was C. Lalchhandama, a retired government officer while the BJP state unit nominated C. Ramkinlova, who had unsuccessfully contested from the seat in 2008 assembly polls.

Meanwhile, the MNF nominee Lalvenhima Hmar and MPC candidate Lalhmangaiha Sailo on Friday filed their nominations for the Chalfilh by-polls and they were the first and only candidates to file nominations so far with the last date of filing nominations fixed on February six.

READ MORE - Congress announces candidate for Mizoram by-polls