ToI reported that a National Commission for Protection of Child Rights team report said that children manning human barricades to ward off police forces in alleged forcible acquisition of their land for South Korean steel giant POSCO have been doing so of their own free will in concern of their livelihood and future.

The three member team of NCPCR, which visited the POSCO affected areas in the state to find out if children were coerced to join the anti POSCO agitation, has reported in the negative on the matter, saying the children voluntarily joined the blockade.

The NCPCR team in its report said that "The participation of children in the agitation appears to be voluntary and the children think that they are protecting the interest of their families, which is contrary to the allegations that children are being coerced to participating in the agitation. The children's involvement in the blockade is a reactive incident. It is a strategic course of action, discussed and agreed to by most of the villagers of Dhinkia, Gobindapur and Nuagaon. The anxiety, apprehension on account of the prospect of displacement and loss of the source of livelihood for their families has been apparently affecting the minds of the children. It appears to be a factor behind such conduct by the children.”

The NCPCR team, comprising Dr Yogesh Dube, Mr RS Misra and Mr Jaiprakash Rao visited the POSCO affected region following allegations from Delhi Odia Students Association and the All India Students Federation that children were being forcibly involved in the anti POSCO agitation in violation of their right to free and compulsory education. The team visited the agitation site where the state government is currently acquiring lands for POSCO with the help of hundreds of armed police personnel. The NCPCR team visited schools in the area and held talks with the children participating in the blockade, villagers and senior government officials, including the chief secretary and Jagatsingpur district collector.

NCPCR observed that "Grievances of non recognition of legal rights to their so called encroached lands and of inadequacy of the compensation package coupled with the perception of benefit to industry owners and others at the cost of their own livelihood support, is bound to create frustration and anger in the minds of people. Children do tend to get emotionally involved in apprehension, anxiety and frustration of their parents concerning the livelihood of the family. Naturally the children would question why their parents are put to this kind of situation and they would carry a strong conviction of injustice to their parents.”

The report said that “Women have been active contributors in the practice, the report mentioned, escorting their respective children to the place of protest. The purpose of involving children in the blockade is to constitute a human shield and thereby thwart any attempt by police from using physical force against the squatters for dispersing them.”

The NCPCR team lamented no efforts are made by the ground level functionaries of the School & Mass Education department and the Women & Child Development department to attract the children to schools. The report expressed grave concern over the government's failure in implementing various welfare schemes meant for the children in the area as well.

(Sourced from TOI)