Priyank Kanoongo, head of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), claimed that during a visit to two missionary groups in the tribal sections of Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district, he saw important persons "involved in the dirty work of converting children," news agency ANI reported. He further claimed that children had memorised Christian religious prayers and threatened to sue under the JJ Act and the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 2021.
He further claimed that children as young as 10 years old were forced to trim grass and clean toilets on the grounds, and warned that appropriate action would be done by submitting a warning to the Madhya Pradesh Government's Chief Secretary.
On his official social media account, the NCPCR chairman announced his visit to the tribal parts of Dewas district, saying he toured two separate institutions run by misisonary groups.
"Today, during my visit to the tribal areas of Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh, I inspected two different institutions, both of which were being run by missionary organisations," he posted on X.
The Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act of 2005 established the NCPCR as a statutory entity. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has administrative jurisdiction over it. The commission's mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative procedures are consistent with the vision of children's rights.
Kanoonga noted in his article that children in need of care and protection (CNCP) can only be held in registered children's homes with CWC orders, according to the definition of the JJ Act.
"Here, a blatant violation of this law has been seen as the institutions did not submit the registration documents," he alleged.
"Almost all the children are Hindus; however, the children offer Christian prayers at the institution. The children have learned Christian religious prayers by heart. Innocent children as young as 10 years of age are made to cut grass, sweep and even clean toilets on the premises," he further alleged in his post.
According to the NCPCR chairman, their team discovered "evidence" of "foreign funding" for the institution.
"Our team has also found evidence of foreign funding and high political contacts of the institute; it is clear that influential people in the tribal areas are using their influence to do the dirty work of converting innocent children," he added in his post.
"Due action will be taken by issuing a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Government," he further added in his post.