Shillong, Nov 19: Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma said that in a diverse and rapidly growing nation like India, the challenge is not the absence of policies but ensuring that these policies reach the last child—whether in Meghalaya or in any village across the country.
Inaugurating the two-day workshop titled “Voices of the Future: Nurturing Awareness and Action for Child Rights” on Wednesday, Sangma emphasized that every child must have access to education, childcare, nutrition and a safe environment.
He noted that, in Meghalaya as in many parts of India, the realities of child labour, school dropouts, malnutrition and vulnerability to exploitation continue to persist.
“As policymakers, educators and social workers, our responsibility does not end with the launch of schemes,” he said. “It must continue in our homes, in our schools and in our communities. Every action we take toward a child’s learning, health, security and environment contributes to building a brighter and more inclusive future.”
Organised by the Department of Social Welfare and Captain Williamson Sangma State University, the workshop was held at its campus premises at Balalgre in South West Garo Hills district on Wednesday.
The Speaker stressed the need for greater convergence between government efforts, academic institutions and community participation. He commended the Department of Social Welfare and CWSSU for taking the initiative to host the workshop, combining research, training and community action to build a framework where awareness translates into meaningful action.
He added that the involvement of students ensures that the next generation of social workers, educators and policymakers approaches its responsibilities with trust and understanding. “As you deliberate over these two days,” he said, “may your discussions spark new ideas for global solutions and stronger advocacy for children’s rights.”
Rangsakona legislator Subir Marak also echoed the Speaker’s views and said children are not only our future but our present responsibility.
He also stated that it was a collective duty of policy makers, educators and all citizens to ensure that every child grows up in an environment that is safe, nurturing and filled with opportunities, adding that a workshop like this was crucial to strengthen awareness, shape young minds and encourage collective responsibility towards well-being of children.
In her keynote address, Meena Kharkongor emphasized that protection of child rights is far more than merely knowing that children have rights. It requires actively cultivating empathy, responsibility and a rights-based mindset among families, communities and institutions to ensure that every child’s right to survival, development, participation and protection is recognized, respected and upheld. She stressed that every child deserves the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential, free from fear, neglect and exploitation.
“Children are not extensions of their parents, nor are they objects of social charity,” she said. “They may be vulnerable, but they are individuals—human beings with equal dignity and equal rights.”
The workshop will conclude on Thursday after two days of meaningful dialogue on strengthening child protection systems, encouraging child participation, and fostering resilient communities that place children’s well-being at the centre.
