National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) president Priyank Kanoongo has announced that he will issue a notice regarding alleged conversions of children in Madhya Pradesh. During his visit to two missionary organizations in the tribal areas of Dewas district, Kanoongo claimed to have found influential individuals involved in converting children.
Kanoongo also alleged that the children had memorized Christian religious prayers and pledged to take action under the Juvenile Justice Act and the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021.
Furthermore, Kanoongo accused the institutions of making children as young as 10 years old engage in menial tasks such as grass cutting and cleaning toilets on the premises. He vowed to take appropriate action by issuing a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Government.
In a social media post, Kanoongo shared details of his visit, stating that he had inspected two institutions operated by missionary organizations in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh. He criticized the institutions for failing to submit registration documents, which is a violation of the law according to the definition of the JJ Act.
Kanoongo highlighted the fact that the majority of the children are Hindus, yet they are observed offering Christian prayers at the institution. He added that evidence of foreign funding and high-level political contacts was found, suggesting that influential people in the tribal areas are using their power to convert innocent children.
In November, the NCPCR issued a notice to the Collector and Superintendent of Police of Vidisha district to investigate allegations of students being punished for chanting a religious slogan at Bharat Mata Convent School in Ganj Basoda city, Madhya Pradesh.
The NCPCR is a statutory body responsible for protecting children’s rights, established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. With a mandate to ensure compliance with the vision of child rights, the NCPCR operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
As more details emerge from the NCPCR’s investigation, there is mounting concern over the alleged conversions of children and the conditions they face in the missionary institutions. The notice to the Chief Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Government aims to address these serious allegations and invoke appropriate action to safeguard the rights and well-being of the affected children.
