A community consultation focusing on the “Impacts of Conflict on Children with Special Focus on Education and Protection” was conducted on Thursday at Kidozone School/L.P. School in Khangshim. The programme, organised by NEEDS (New Era Environmental & Development Society) with support from CRY–Child Rights and You, brought together government and civil society representatives to assess the challenges faced by children in conflict-affected areas.
Keisham Pradipkumar, Chairperson of the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, attended as the special guest. Teams from CRY, the District Child Protection Unit Tengnoupal, and Child Welfare Committees from Tengnoupal and Chandel also took part in the deliberations.
Parents, teachers, community leaders, and children actively shared experiences of how the ongoing unrest has disrupted education, strained mental health, and created broader protection concerns. Several speakers underscored the urgency of building stronger local support systems and ensuring children have access to safe and stable learning spaces.
According to the NEEDS team, the consultation is part of an effort to reinforce community-based child protection mechanisms and improve support for children who remain vulnerable due to the conflict. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate closely with child protection agencies to safeguard children’s rights and their access to education.
