Ensure all children attend school : National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

Rescue of 95 minors who were being illegally transported from Bihar to unauthorised madarasas

Priyank Kanoongo, NCPCR

New Delhi – On April 26th, a significant rescue operation took place as 95 minors were being transported from Ayodhya to an unauthorised madarasa in Saharanpur. The Uttar Pradesh State Child Rights Protection Commission took swift action and rescued these children. In response to this incident, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to all Chief Secretaries across the country, urging them to ensure that all children between the ages of 6 to 14 years attend the nearest school. The Commission emphasized that this right is guaranteed under the Right to Education Act, 2009, and must be upheld in all States and Union Territories.

According to information provided by Priyank Kanoongo, the President of the Commission, to a representative of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’, this order was issued on May 3rd. The order highlighted the trafficking of children following the incident in Ayodhya, emphasizing that strict action should be taken against those involved, in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and B.D.V. Article 370. The Commission directed all Collectors in the region to take special care to prevent such incidents from occurring, and Priyank Kanoongo also urged all Chief Secretaries to provide a report on the implementation of this order within 15 days.

Editorial Perspective

Public thinks that the Union government should now impose a ban on all such unregistered madarasas across the country and make a decision to offer mainstream education to all children.