As envisaged with a role to safeguard the rights of the Child, the NCPCR has taken various initiatives like:

• GHAR: Go home and Reunite portal for repatriation of Children from child care homes to their families during Covid-19.
• Training modules for Child welfare Committees to ensure their efficient functioning.
• MASI portal: Monitoring app for seamless investigation ( for real time monitoring of child care institutions)
• The Commission recently issued a directive to civil society organisations against depiction of vulnerable children for fund-raising.
• Bal Swaraj portal:  for online tracking and monitoring of the Children who are in need of protection and care.

Challenges Faced by NCPCR in Protecting Child Rights in India

The NCPCR, while discharging its functions to protect and promote child rights in India, faces following challenges:

• Powers of the Commission: The NCPCR is provided with powers to issue directions to the public authorities. Its recommendations are non- binding in nature on the Government as the Commission lacks power to enforce its recommendations. Such a non-binding nature of the recommendations becomes a hurdle in its efficient functioning.
• No time frame for inquiries: Child rights issues are of urgent importance. However, it has been observed that as the Act does not prescribe for any time frame to conduct inquiries and investigations, the Commission faces issues of delay in disposal of cases.
• Low reporting of Complaints: According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the nodal ministry of NCPCR, the Commission has received 50,857 complaints during the 5 years from 2016 to 2021.  However, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, in 2021, a total 1,28,531 cases of crimes against children were registered. This data shows the lack of awareness among people in reporting the cases with the Commission.
• Lack of proactive role by the Commission: A recent report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee for child rights observed that the Commission lacks a proactive approach in taking actions to highlight the child rights related issues. The Commission is alleged to be reactive in its functioning rather than being proactive in safeguarding the rights of children.
• Advisory role of the Commission: As per the provisions of the Commissions for Child Rights Act, 2005 the Central Government is required to consult Commission on issues related to Child rights. However, in the report provided by the Commission, it has been highlighted that the consultation from the Commission in early stages of policy formulation is rare. The Commission is informed later about such actions by the Government.

Way Ahead for Strengthening the NCPCR’s Role in Protecting Child Rights in India

• Synergy between government departments and Commission:  To tackle the administrative challenges faced by the Commission, a synergy has to be developed among the ministry of WCD and the Commission ensuring that it does not compromise with the independence and autonomy of the Commission.
• Reimagining the role of the Commission: The Commission should recognise its crucial role in protecting rights of the Children. Hence, it should try to engage more with civil society organisations, NGO and other institutions to create awareness among people and ensure to take Suo moto actions where cases involve a larger good of children.
• Powers to the Commission: The Commission should be provided with more autonomy and powers like rights to provide monetary relief, imposing penalties etc. other than this, the members of the Commission should also ensure that existing powers are exercised by them effectively.

Conclusion

For any country; the Children are its Future Capital. They need to be nurtured to truly reap the benefits of demographic dividend. Hence, the NCPCR should take measures to ensure rights based approach for development of children in India. Other than the Commission, the ‘Janbhagidari’ through civil society is also needed to ensure a 360 degree approach for protection of child rights in India.