Imphal, September 29 2009: Coalition on Children's Rights for Protection (CCRP), Manipur has appealed to all the individuals and organisations concerned to respect the dignity of the children staying in children homes and not to bring them out under media glare at the time of asking donations.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here today, State co-ordinator of children's rights body, K Pradipkumar, pointed out that in accordance with the provisions under Article-III of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, any organisation or individual concerned, who intend to take up developmental related programmes for the children should first of all understand that the programmes should be in the interest of the children concerned and it should not affect the dignity of the children.

However, it has been observed in Manipur that the children in children homes are being forced to come out under media glare to sing, dance, take part in stage programmes in the name of charity show or fund drive as well as in film shooting.

All these activities are against the interest of the children, apart from discouraging them and creating a false impression in their minds that they can survive without the donation of others, Pradipkumar said.

So, even if any individual or organisation want to donate something for the children, they should not be exposed to the media glare, he said.

Convenor of the children's rights body, S Sarju said children of children homes should not be forced to take part in protest rally, sit-in-protest or any other public movements.

Moreover, they should not be imparted vocational training in unorganised sectors or adopted.

Along with these measures, entry of people inside the campus of children homes and consumption of liquor, drugs and tobacco products should be stopped, she added.

Member of the Core Group H Rashi stated that all the points that CCRP highlighted should be strictly observed in all the existing children homes in Manipur.

She further pointed out that words like orphan or relinquish should not be used against the children staying in children homes.

Another Core Group member Sanaton said that the Government should ensure adequate protection and care for the children in children homes and increase their daily food allowance.

This should also be reflected in the budget allocation of the State.

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