NCPCR objects to World Bank paper calling it 'understaffed'

NCPCR, the apex body for child rights, has objected to a policy paper by the World Bank which called it "understaffed", saying the commission considers its present strength sufficient to handle the number of complaints received by it.

The World Bank, in its policy research paper, said that more than 40,000 cases have been filed in India under the Right To Education Act since 2010, but a large number of intended beneficiaries were still to draw benefits from it.

The report, referring to the case database of an Indian legal portal (www.indiankanoon.org), said out of 41,343 cases filed since 2010, as many as 2,477 cases have been heard by the Supreme Court.

"The right to education relies on the ombudsman role of the national and state commissions for the protection of child rights (NCPCR and SCPCR) and for grievance redressal. But these bodies are understaffed," it said.

Reacting to the WB paper, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said in a statement that the commission "considers the present strength of the division sufficient for the time being to handle the cases of complaints received".

"The NCPCR has a separate division dedicated to the monitoring of Right to Education Act, 2009 under the leadership of Member (Education) with a team of 15 officials, including technical experts and junior consultants. So far 1,505 complaints have been examined and redressed in last three years," the statement said.

The child rights body also objected to the policy paper for stating that the NCPCR and SCPCR had been formed in only 14 of the 29 states.

"At present, there are 35 state commissions for protection of child rights functioning in 35 states and Union Territories, and these bodies are also discharging their ombudsman role as provided under Section 32 of the Right to Education Act, 2009," the statement said.

It added that the NCPCR had been working in close coordination with all state commissions, in redressing the cases of violation of the rights of children.