UNICEF with the support of Navbharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK) organized a teacher’sworkshop on child rights today. This workshop was organized under child reporter programme which is being run in 6 blocks (Ranchi, Namkum, Itki, Nagri, Angada & Ormanjhi) of Ranchi district and 3 blocks each in Giridih & West Singhbhum district. The purpose of the workshop was to orient teachers on child rights and the challenges andproblems children are facing after post COVID-19. Over 73teachers from 6 blocks of Ranchi district participated in the workshop. 

Ms Astha Alang, Communication officer, UNICEF Jharkhand; Ms Priti Srivastava, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Jharkhand; Anuradha Rani, BEEO, Itki Block & 3 BPOs from Itki, Kanke & Ratu block also participated in the workshop.  

Orienting teachers on the importance of child rights, Ms Astha Alang, Communication Officer, UNICEF Jharkhand said, “Under United Nations Conventions on the Rights of theChild (UNCRC), children have been given basic rights, the four broad classification of which are right to survival, right to protection, right to development & right to participation. These rights are related to children’s health, nutrition, education, protection, mental health & their all-round development.

Teachers play a very important role in shaping children’s lives by providing the right environment and care in schools. Teachers are one of the focal agents in ensuring children’s rights not only within the campus of the educational institutions but also outside. A teacher’s role in the life of an individual is vital and a good teacher occupies a very significant place in the minds and hearts of young students. After parents, it is the teacher who influences a child most and contributes to the shaping of his or her personality. Hence it is imperative for every teacher to be aware of Child Rights, prevailing social evils which impact adversely on the development of children, and also the legal provisions which exist, and which can help safeguard the rights of the children.”

Briefing on the issue of child marriage & its impact on children, Ms Priti Srivastava, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Jharkhand said, “Though child marriage rate has declined in the state, but we still need to work more on this issue as it is crucial to ensuring wellbeing & development of children. Child marriage is the cause of early pregnancy which leads to infant mortality, maternal mortality & malnutrition among children. Teachers’ can play their role by briefing parents about the consequences of child marriage and also the laws enacted to discourage child marriage in the society. We all need to work together, so that child marriage can be eradicated from the society.”

Ms Anuradha Rani, BEEO, Itki block also shared her thoughts on this occasion. She said, “I appreciate the initiative taken by UNICEF & NBJK for providing training to teachers on child rights issues. This will help teachers to understand the issues and work efficiently to create an enabling environment for children in the school. I look forward to many such initiatives and collaboration with teachers in future as well.” she said.

Ms Susmita Bhattacharjee, Programme Manager, NBJK, presented detailed information & reports about the work & activities conducted under the child reporter programme in the school last year. She elaborated initiatives taken by child reporters to stop child marriage, child labour & ensured all children in school & hundred percent vaccination in the family & community as well. 

On this occasion, teachers also shared their views & thoughts. Mr Vijay Bahadur Singh, Principal, government middle school, Baridih of Itki block said, “The Child reporter programme is very popular among children. They have gained lots of confidence and expression capabilities after joining this programme. Child Reporters are vocal for their rights and they are bringing change around good practices & behaviour not only in their family but in the society as well.”