A day- long meet on the Draft National  Education Policy 2019 held here on Friday ended with a clarion call to the Government of India for focusing on the overall wellbeing of the children and upholding all rights due to them. The participants stressed on quality, inclusive and safe education for every child.

The  consultation organised by the National Action and Coordination Group for Ending Violence Against Children, India[NACG India] in association with PECUC was inaugurated by former Vice Chairman, CHSE, Professor Mohammad Fakiruddin. Director, Higher Education Niranjan Sahoo also spoke on the opening session. The inaugural session was chaired by chairperson NACG India Ranjan Kumar Mohanty  and vice chairperson D Roshan Kumar gave vote of thanks.

Experts on the field of child rights and education from across the country took part in the deliberations. Former Additional Director, Higher Education  and national convenor of Joint Forum for Movement on Education Dr Amiya Kuma Mohanty, national convenor, RTE Forum Ambarish Rai, national convenor , CACL P Victor Raj, coordinator, MV Foundation Y Rajendra Prashad and Razia Ismail of the India Alliance for Child Rights deliberated on the Draft National Education Policy.

Various nuances of the policy were discussed in the plenary. In the second plenary the focus was on the need of measures which ensure overall security and safety of children in the education system.

Former Chairperson, OSCPCR Kasturi Mohapatra, former Member, Jharkhand SCPCR Sanjay Misra, former Director, SCERT Dr PC Mohapatra, Country Director, Adoptions Centrum Ruby Rout and former member of the Maharastra SCPCR Suryakant Kulkarni made their presentation on the need for strengthening the component in the new Education Policy.

Parallel sessions on school education led by Dr Chiranjeeb Kakoty, higher education led by Prof Mohammad Fakiruddin and Manabendra Natyh Mandal , technology in education , vocational education led by Bibekananda Das and Anil Pradhan and

transforming education led by CJ George and Ruby Rout came out with detailed recommendations to the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development.

Chairperson, Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Sandhyabati Pradhan graced the concluding session as chief guest.