Minister for social welfare, Kiyanilie Peseyie inaugurated the observation home for the people of Mon district on October 29.
In his inaugural speech, the minister appealed to the people of Mon district to extend cooperation and support to the government to achieve the aims and objectives of the observation home and ICPS in the state.
Kiyanilie said that the government has put up the observation home in Mon in the first phase keeping in view that the district has a large population.
“Observation home is for a short stay home and those who require longer attention referred by the juvenile justice board can be sent to Pherima special home for proper counseling and future guidance”, he added.
He informed that at present, the state has seven observation homes, out of which, five are run by the government while the other two are run by an NGO.
“The objective of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is to safe guard the rights of the children in vulnerable condition and these vulnerable children falls under two categories: Children in need of proper care and protection, and children in conflict with law”, he said.
“Most of the children in conflict with the law have committed petty crimes in the state. Some committed more serious offenses like murder and rape, while some are forced into crime by adults who use them as they know that children cannot be tried as adults.
Most of the children committed crimes have no education or having education only up to primary level”, the minister said.
He also said the major area of concern was the rise of juvenile crimes over all Nagaland and for this reason the government has set up various observation homes in various parts of the state and all district will be covered.
Deputy commissioner, Mon Angau I Thou, IAS in her short speech, highlighted about the observation home and Acts provided by the government for protection of children below the age of 18 years.
She called upon the people to give a consolidate effort to run the home smoothly and at the same time appealed to the staff to cater to the needs of the juvenile with love and care, and bring them up with decent and responsible citizen of the state.
President KNSK, Lomei Konyak thanked the government for the home and suggested remedies for running the home smoothly.
Joint director, social welfare who is also the director of observation home, Mon stressed on the Management Information System (MIS) and Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)
Earlier, invocation was said by Rev. Nahngom, pastor KBCM while welcome address was proposed by Akumtola Jamir, superintendent, observation home, Mon.
The programme was chaired by Mhonthung Kikon, probation officer, Mon observation home and concluded with vote of thanks by Khampei, accountant, observation home, Mon.