About Commission

The  Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR) is a statutory body set up on 1st  November, 2010 by the Government of Odisha by virtue of power given to it under section 17 of the Commission of Protection of Child Rights Act (CPCR Act), 2005 (Amended in 2006). OSCPCR works in close coordination with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), State Line Departments and other State Commissions.

The modalities of the OSCPCR are enshrined in the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Rules, 2009 which was notified on 25th November, 2009.

OSCPCR create awareness about Child Rights in the State at all levels, and to voice the interests and concerns of the children of Odisha in policies and programmes that affect their lives. It is the statutory body of the Government of Odisha on matters of child rights. Some of the child rights, the Commission works on are:

• Preventing child rights violations and protection of child rights across the State (Child Abuse, Violence against & Exploitation of Children, Child Marriage, Child Labour, Child Trafficking and Migration, Corporal Punishment, Street Children and Child Beggars and Children under Institutional Care.
• Right to Education- Compliance of the provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
• Right to Health with an emphasis on the development of primary health care, pregnancy care, infant care, adequate and nutritious food, clean drinking water, immunization, etc;
• Protection of rights of children with special needs;
• Protection of children from substance abuse;
• Enforcement of legal protections and special safeguards meant for children in conflict with law if and when the latter commit any unlawful act and the associated therein;
• Monitoring the implementation of all child welfare Schemes and Laws in force.
• Referring the relevant cases to the concerned Government Departments and institutions to resolve the child rights issues.
• Submitting an annual report on activities of the Commission to the State Government as per Section 23 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.

The Commission monitors the implementation of these rights, reviews the safeguards, inquires into violations and advises the government on policy formulation and legislative reforms. The Commission has an Administrative Secretary in addition to the regular staffs. The Commission has six members headed by a Chairperson.

Constitution

Constitution of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights:

The State Commission shall consist of the following members, namely:

(a) a Chairperson who is a person of eminence and has done outstanding work for promoting the welfare of children; and

(b) six Members, out of which at least two shall be women, from the following fields, to be appointed by the State Government from amongst persons of eminence, ability, integrity, standing and experience in –

(i) education;

(ii) child health, care; welfare or child development;

(iii) juvenile justice for neglected or marginalized children or children with disabilities;

(iv) elimination of child labour or children in distress;

(v) child psychology or sociology; and

(vi) laws relating to children.

Mandate

The Commission’s mandate is to ensure that all Child related Laws, Policies, Programmes, Administrative Mechanisms and activities in the State, no matter whether managed by Government or Non-Government Organizations, are in conformity with the Child Rights perspective as proclaimed in the Constitution of India and the United Nations Convention on Rights of a Child (UNCRC), 1989 to which India is a signatory.

The Commission ensures that all the rights of children are of equal importance and they are mutually reinforcing and independent. The mandate of the Commission is to ensure that children lead a life with dignity and their voices are heard with utmost sincerity and priority at every level. As a statutory entity against child rights violation, the OSCPCR strives to promote the best interest of children.