Jharkhand State Level Stakeholders Consultation on Safeguarding the Girl Child

Ranchi: Violence against children, whether physical, sexual, or emotional, has devastating and long-lasting consequences, impacting their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Globally, at least one billion children experience violence annually, with girls often facing greater vulnerability and more significant ramifications, underscoring the vital importance of protecting them from all forms of violence and ensuring their safety and well-being. It is therefore imperative to bringing together judicial, government, and civil society leaders to affirm their commitment to creating a safer and more enabling environment for girls.

The Jharkhand State-Level Stakeholders Consultation on Safeguarding the Girl Child was successfully convened today at the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium, Judicial Academy, Jharkhand, Ranchi. The event, organised by the Juvenile Justice-cum-POCSO Committee of the High Court of Jharkhand, in collaboration with the Department of Women, Child Development, and Social Security, Government of Jharkhand, and UNICEF, Jharkhand, aimed to address pressing issues affecting girls.

The event provided a platform for a shared understanding of interventional strategies, documenting key progress, and gathering valuable insights from adolescents and youth who have emerged as change-makers in their communities. Discussions at the consultation focused broadly on violence, child marriage, and trafficking, with an emphasis on creating a safer and enriching life for girls through robust child protection, education, and health initiatives.

The day commenced with an impactful inaugural session, graced by several distinguished personalities

The session began with a welcome address by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Shankar, Judge & Chairperson, JJ -cum- POCSO Committee, High Court of Jharkhand, whose remarks set the constructive tone for the day’s proceedings. ” This consultation is vital for advancing child rights,” he said, noting that international conventions and constitutional guarantees together provide a strong framework for safeguarding children.
He pointed out that poverty, discrimination, inequality, and patriarchy remain pressing challenges, and stressed the need for multi-pronged approaches to overcome them.

Emphasising convergence across sectors, he envisioned a society where every girl child can live without fear and with freedom. He further acknowledged that stakeholders, including UNICEF, play a crucial role in working collectively for child rights.”

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, The Chief Justice, High Court of Jharkhand, delivered the special address as the Chief Guest. “He stressed that child rights must not only be discussed but lived as a societal commitment. Drawing from his experiences in Himachal Pradesh, he shared best practices such as surprise inspections of Bal Ashrams and Balika Ashrams, financial reforms in juvenile homes, and systemic improvements including fixed diet charts, medical cards, and regular health check-ups for children.

He underlined that the Juvenile Justice Act is crucial in guaranteeing children’s rights, while calling for a more sensitive and humane approach beyond bureaucratic obligations.

He emphasized the importance of foster care and aftercare as sustainable alternatives to institutionalization, noting that children must be integrated into society rather than confined to juvenile homes.

His address highlighted that small, practical measures hold the power to transform child protection.

Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad, Judge, High Court of Jharkhand & Executive Chairman, JHALSA, served as the Guest of Honour, delivering the keynote address. “He elaborated on the constitutional guarantees for safeguarding children, stressing the principle of non-discrimination.

Citing NFHS data, he raised concerns about child marriage, female foeticide, and gender-based bias, emphasising that such practices are not confined to rural areas but are equally prevalent in urban settings.

He stressed the urgent need to change societal mindsets and highlighted that gender-selective practices reflect deep-rooted prejudice across communities. Underscoring the critical role of law enforcement in ensuring justice for child victims, he urged police officials to treat victims with empathy, as though they were their own children.

He also drew attention to challenges like drug abuse, trafficking, and rehabilitation of rescued girls, while commending government initiatives that linked 282 rescued girls to livelihood schemes. While acknowledging persistent challenges, he expressed confidence that consultations such as this would accelerate progress in advancing child rights.”

Dr. Kaninika Mitra, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Jharkhand, addressed the gathering, highlighting UNICEF’s critical role and perspectives on the issues affecting girls. ” She emphasized the urgency of protecting children from violence, discrimination, and inequality.

She underlined that gender-based discrimination begins from the womb, shaped by deeply entrenched socio-cultural practices. Citing NFHS data, she pointed out the persistent preference for sons in Indian families, which is reflected in disparities in education, health, and financial investments.

She highlighted that girls continue to face violence from childhood through adulthood, compounded by child marriage, child labour, and disproportionate household responsibilities. Stressing the importance of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), she called upon all stakeholders to work together in building an inclusive and safe society for children.”

Ms. Alka Tiwari, Chief Secretary, Government of Jharkhand, also addressed the participants, emphasising the government’s dedicated initiatives and policies aimed at protecting and empowering girls. ” She identified pressing challenges in Jharkhand, including large-scale migration, human trafficking, child marriage below 18 years of age, and the high prevalence of POCSO cases.

She emphasized the need for a shift in societal attitudes and mindsets, calling for community vigilance to ensure zero tolerance towards violence. Stressing universal education, she highlighted the importance of enrolling every girl child and addressing dropouts, while underlining the role of skill education and capacity building for CMPOs and stakeholders working with children.

She further advocated for departmental convergence—particularly across education, health, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)—to strengthen grassroots-level implementation. Finally, she emphasized the importance of involving community leaders and local influencers in advancing child protection and shaping policy interventions.”

The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri Manoj Kumar, Secretary, Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security.

Following the inaugural session, the consultation proceeded with four comprehensive technical sessions, each designed to delve into various critical aspects of safeguarding the girl child and featuring numerous presentations and discussions:

Technical Session I, titled “Changing Harmful Social norms of Violence, Child Marriage, Gender discrimination: Voices of the Change Makers from the field,” provided a powerful platform for young voices. A panel discussion moderated by Vaishnavi Priya, a child reporter of UNICEF Jharkhand, featured child change-makers Radha Pandey from Koderma, Asha Kumari from Giridih, Deepa Kumari from Ranchi, and Kriti from Ranchi, who shared their experiences in preventing child marriage and harmful gender practices. The session also included presentations on survey findings on violence against children by Ms. Rakhi from Pratigya, creating enabling environments for girls’ education by Ms. Niharika from Yuva, supportive interventions for emotional violence by Ms. Kalpana from Telemanas, CIP, and changing social norms by Ms. Namita Tagore from JSLPS.

Technical Session II, “Overview of Girl Child in Jharkhand, Online Vulnerabilities and Unpacking Child Friendly Procedure,” was chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Shankar. Mr. Onkar Nath Tripathi, Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Jharkhand, presented an overview of the situation of girls in the state. Discussions also covered the problem of child trafficking and online vulnerabilities with insights from Mr. Ravi Kant, President of Anti-Trafficking NGO Shakti Vahini, and child-friendly procedures across key legislations (JJ Act, POCSO Act, and PCM Act) presented by Mr. Anant Asthana, Child Right Activist.

Technical Session III, chaired by Hon’ble Mrs. Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary, Judge & Member, JJ-cum-POCSO Committee, High Court of Jharkhand, focused on “Best Practice presentations on Child Friendly Procedures, Legal Protection mechanisms, their reach and effectiveness and functioning of oversight mechanism”. Ms. Kumari Ranjana Asthana, Member Secretary, JHALSA, spoke on access to justice through legal aid. Ms. Sandhya Rani Mehta, DIG, Jharkhand Police, showcased innovations like Child Friendly Police Stations, and Mr. Vikas Dodrajka, Member, SCPCR, highlighted the SCPCR’s role in monitoring relevant acts.

The day’s discussions continued into Technical Session IV, chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjay Prasad, Judge & Member, JJ-cum-POCSO Committee, High Court of Jharkhand. This session featured “Best Practice Presentations by Government Departments on Prevention, Response and Support services.” Speakers included Mr. Bishnu C. Parida from Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) on community-led mechanisms, Mr. Shashi Ranjan from Jharkhand Education Council on empowering adolescents through the School Health and Wellness Programme, Mr. Abhay Nandan Ambastha, Additional Secretary, DWCD&SS, on strengthening convergence, and Prof. (Dr.) Amool Ranjan Singh, Director, RINPAS, on treatment and mental health support for victims of violence.

The consultation concluded with a Valedictory Session where Ms. Priti Srivastava, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Jharkhand, presented the key action points derived from the day’s comprehensive discussions.

The event underscored the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to protect girls from all forms of violence and ensure they grow up in nurturing, safe environments, reaffirming the collective commitment to building a safer tomorrow for girls in Jharkhand