• Shortage of District Child Protection Officers
• Govt to amend Law and restructure functioning  

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) is currently operating with a staff shortage of nearly 50 per cent, with the Government taking steps to fill the vacancies, amend the Law governing the institution, and restructure its operations.

Responding to a query raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Rohini Kumari Wijerathna Kavirathna in Parliament, the Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said yesterday (7) that the NCPA has an approved cadre of 618 employees, but that only 336 positions are currently filled, leaving 282 vacancies. 

"For now, Cabinet of Ministers approval has been granted to recruit 109 officers. Recruitment for 46 positions has already been completed, and interviews are underway to fill the remaining 63 vacancies." She also said that steps have been taken to amend the NCPA Act, No. 50 of 1998, with the proposed amendments already referred to the Legal Draftsman's Department. At the same time, she said that work is underway to restructure the NCPA with the aim of improving its institutional capacity and service delivery.

In response to her, Kavirathna claimed that a severe shortage exists among District Child Protection Officers in several Districts. "The NCPA requires 369 District Child Protection Officers, but currently has only 200 in service. The shortage is most acute in the Districts of Puttalam, Badulla, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Mannar. Puttalam has only one District Child Protection Officer, whereas Badulla has just three Officers despite the demand for child protection services in those Districts."

The NCPA was established by Parliament under the said Act to advise the Government on policies and laws related to preventing child abuse, protecting and supporting victims, and coordinating and monitoring actions against all forms of child abuse.