NEWS

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recommended that the Delhi government must suspend its flagship ‘Desh ke Mentor’ programme

DESH KE MENTOR

• Launched in October 2021
• Aimed at connecting students in classes IX to XII with voluntary mentors.
• People between the ages of 18 and 35 can sign up to be mentors through an app created by a team at the Delhi Technological University and will be connected with students based on mutual interests.
• The mentorship entails regular phone calls for a minimum of two months, which can optionally be carried on for another four months.

WHY IS IT OPPOSED

There are five primary points on which the NCPCR has raised concerns with regard to the programme:

• Assigning children to a mentor of the same gender as them does not necessarily assure their safety from abuse.
• Lack of police verification of the mentors.
• On the psychometric test it has asked, “Is this Psychometric Test a full (sic) proof assessment of a person in terms of potential threat to any child? Is this Psychometric Test analyzed/checked/scrutinized by professional practising experts? Can this Psychometric Test identify paedophiles or potential paedophiles?”
• Limiting interactions to phone calls also does not ensure the safety of children since “child related crime can be initiated through phone calls as well.”
• While taking the consent of parents is an essential pre-requisite, the “responsibility and accountability of preventing children from such situation lies with the Department. The consent of parents cannot be used as a cushion in case of any untoward incident.”

ABOUT NCPCR

• Set up in March 2007 under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
• Works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
• The Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
• Mandate : ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Under the RTE Act, 2009, the NCPCR can:

• inquire into complaints about violation of the law.
• summon an individual and demand evidence.
• seek a magisterial enquiry.
• file a writ petition in the High Court or Supreme Court.
• approach the government concerned for prosecution of the offender.
• recommend interim relief to those affected.

Composition:

• Chairperson and six members of which at least two should be women.
• All of them are appointed by Central Government for three years.
• The maximum age to serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for members.