SHILLONG, October 14: With 29 POCSO cases reported in Mawlai Block and 26 in Mawryngkneng Block, Meghalaya has launched a new initiative to strengthen child protection and raise awareness about sexual offences against minors.
The Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), East Khasi Hills, and the state government on Wednesday launched Project ‘Ka Jingkyrmen (Hope)’, focusing on legal awareness, prevention of child abuse and stronger community-level protection mechanisms.
The project aims to educate children, parents, teachers and communities about their rights under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, with particular attention to vulnerable children and areas requiring greater intervention.
Justice Revati Mohite Dere, Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya and Patron-in-Chief of MSLSA, said awareness of the law was particularly important among adolescents and young people, who may not fully understand the legal consequences of sexual activity involving persons below 18 years of age.
She pointed out that under the POCSO Act, a minor’s consent is not a valid legal defence, and violations can attract stringent punishment.
Justice Dere said the initiative was conceived in response to cases encountered during judicial proceedings, including those involving adolescents in romantic relationships. Such cases, she noted, could have far-reaching consequences, including pregnancy, school dropouts, arrest and prosecution, affecting the future of both boys and girls.
Emphasising the importance of education, she urged children to complete their studies and remain focused on their aspirations, describing education as a means of empowerment that opens up opportunities and helps secure their future.
Pravin Bakshi, Commissioner and Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, said the project would strengthen community awareness and improve coordination among institutions responsible for child protection.
Citing the reported POCSO cases in Mawlai and Mawryngkneng, he stressed the need for sustained awareness campaigns and preventive interventions at the community level.
Bakshi also outlined existing child protection measures, including Mission Vatsalya, which provides care, protection and support to children in difficult circumstances, including those who are abused, abandoned, orphaned, missing or trafficked.
He highlighted the role of child care institutions in providing shelter, rehabilitation and other support, as well as the Child Helpline, which has been integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (112) and the Women Helpline (181).
Justice H. S. Thangkhiew, judge of the High Court of Meghalaya and Executive Chairman of MSLSA, said the project had been formulated under the Chief Justice’s directions to improve awareness, particularly among vulnerable children and communities most affected by offences against minors.
He stressed that legal information must be communicated in languages that children and local communities can understand to ensure that awareness programmes are accessible and effective.
Project Ka Jingkyrmen will cover children’s rights under the POCSO Act, good touch and bad touch, consent, personal safety and the risks children face online, including cyber-related offences.
It will also publicise key helpline numbers, including 15100 for legal services, 1930 for cybercrime and 112 for police emergencies, so that children and community members know where to seek assistance.
The initiative will bring together the Social Welfare, Health and Education departments, police, district administration, students, teachers, Anganwadi workers, para-legal volunteers and traditional village institutions.
Alongside preventing abuse, the project also seeks to help children continue their education and avoid dropping out by improving access to guidance and support services.
Through the initiative, the legal services authorities and the state government aim to strengthen cooperation between institutions and communities to protect children from abuse and ensure their safety, dignity and access to education.
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