PSC alleges Longleng's child protection office remained non-functional nearly two years, seeks action against absent district protection officer
DIMAPUR — The Phom Students' Conference (PSC) has alleged that the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) in Longleng has remained non-functional for nearly two years, claiming the office has been found locked during official working hours during every inspection conducted by the student body over the past several months.
The PSC on Monday directed the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) to appear before the conference within two days to explain the alleged prolonged absence from the district and urged the Department of Social Welfare to initiate departmental action.
According to PSC Inspection Committee convener and general secretary Imkongchingba Phom, the committee has inspected various government offices in Longleng district on more than seven occasions. During each visit, including the latest inspection on Monday, the DCPU office was found locked during official working hours.
"Despite repeated inspections, press releases and phone calls to the Head of Department urging him to remain at his place of posting, there has been no improvement," Phom said.
He alleged that the office, which is headed by the District Child Protection Officer, has remained closed for as long as the student body can remember because the officer is rarely in station.
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Phom said that he had personally spoken to the DCPO earlier this year. "I have even called him personally, and the last call was made earlier this year. The DCPO assured me that he would come, but till date we have not seen him in station," he said.
He further claimed that, under the prevailing practice, the office is not opened by Grade-IV staff in the absence of the DCPO.
The DCPU is the district-level nodal agency under the Department of Social Welfare responsible for implementing child protection services, including responding to cases of child abuse, neglect and trafficking, providing counselling and rehabilitation, and coordinating with the police and child welfare authorities.
The PSC alleged that the continued non-functioning of the office has affected the delivery of child protection services to vulnerable children and families in the district.
"Child protection cannot wait. When an office meant to safeguard children remains locked, it is the most vulnerable who suffer," Phom said, urging the department to ensure the proper functioning of the DCPU in Longleng.
He said that the issue went beyond one locked office and concerned the denial of essential child protection services to people entitled to them.
The student body also said it would continue monitoring public service delivery across the district and warned that it would take up similar cases against any government office found closed during official working hours.
"If an employee is posted in Longleng, we expect them to remain in Longleng district and perform their duties," Phom said.
Eastern Mirror could not immediately obtain a response from the District Child Protection Officer or the Department of Social Welfare.