Article:
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has recently made a recommendation to the Delhi government to suspend its flagship initiative, the ‘Desh Ke Mentor’ Programme. NCPCR suggests that the suspension should last until all existing issues related to children’s safety are thoroughly addressed and rectified.
About the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
Established in March 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, the NCPCR is a statutory body responsible for ensuring the protection of child rights. Operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development, its mandate involves ensuring that laws, policies, programs, and administrative mechanisms align with child rights as outlined in the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. One of NCPCR’s main responsibilities includes investigating complaints pertaining to a child’s right to free and compulsory education under the Right to Education Act, 2009. Additionally, NCPCR also oversees the implementation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Delhi’s ‘Desh Ke Mentor’ Programme
Launched in October 2021 as part of the Delhi government’s effort to provide mentorship and guidance to young students, the Desh Ke Mentor Programme connects volunteer mentors with students between grades IX and XII. To become a mentor, individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 need to sign up via an app created by a team at Delhi Technological University. The voluntary mentors are then matched with students based on their shared interests, offering guidance on higher education, preparation for entrance exams, and coping with resulting stressors. They commit to regular phone calls for at least two months, with the option to extend the contact period to six months in total. Since its inception, the program has seen approximately 44,000 individuals sign up as mentors, working with around 1.76 lakh students.
NCPCR’s Concerns about the ‘Desh Ke Mentor’ Programme
Despite the programme’s intention of supporting students’ learning, NCPCR has raised several concerns regarding its execution, specifically focusing on child safety. The commission highlighted that assigning a mentor of the same gender as the child does not inherently guarantee safety from potential abuse. It also noted the absence of police verification for mentors and stated that a psychometric test is not a foolproof method for evaluating an individual’s potential threat to a child.
Additionally, NCPCR expressed concern that limiting interactions to phone calls doesn’t necessarily safeguard against crimes related to children, as such offenses can also originate from telephonic communications. The commission emphasized that the responsibility of preventing children from such perilous situations belongs to the concerned department. Finally, NCPCR warned against relying on parental consent to absolve mentors or the department of accountability in the event of any unfortunate incident.