Bio Data of Shri Priyank Kanoongo

Professional Distinction: Youngest Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Headed the Commission for two consecutive terms from 2018 to 2021 and from 2021 to 2024.

Before this, he served as Member (Education) in NCPCR for 2015-2018. He has also authored a book titled Pinjra- The Cage, that presents a well-explored and well- researched account of lives of children in Child Care Institutions and role of authorities.

Educational Qualification: B.Sc. in Microbiology

Major Work including Strategic Interventions:

• Inspired by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India - Shri Narendra Modi’s Vision on Digitization, Digitized the existing monitoring mechanism in NCPCR and launched eight(8) portals for monitoring of various child related Acts/Laws. These include-

- MASI App for streamlining the inspection of children's homes throughout the country.

- Bal Swaraj COVID-Care Portal was developed to help the COVID affected children.

- Bal Swaraj CISS portal for rehabilitation of children in street situation (CISS).

- Citizen Portal to enable the citizens to contribute in rehabilitation of CISS

- GHAR Portal is effectively reintegrating children living in orphanages into their families.

- POCSO Tracking Portal was launched to speed up the process of compensation for child victims of sexual abuse.

- Out of School Children Portal to connect out-of-school children to the mainstream of education

- The grievance redressal mechanism was also digitized for speedy and effective redressal of grievances.

• By utilizing portals, a comprehensive data bank was established on various indicators related to children's rights and entitlements, eliminating the reliance on NGOs and other private agencies.

• Drafted more than 10 policy documents/guidelines/SoPs on various issues in consultation with Government stakeholders, minimizing the involvement of non-government organizations. These include, SoP for Children in Street Situation; Joint Action Plan to prevent drug abuse and trafficking of children; fee regulating framework for private schools; model guidelines with respect to support persons u/s 39 of the POCSO Act, 2012 etc.

• Effective implementation of the inter-departmental Joint Action Plan to prevent drug abuse and trafficking of children resulted in establishing 6,27,309 Prahari Clubs in schools. More than 3,60,000 CCTV installed so far at medical stores selling scheduled H & X drug. Action initiated against 368778 u/s 6 of COTP Act, 2003 for selling Tobacco/Cigarette.

• Inter-departmental convergence for redressal of grievances by holding 209 camps/benches at Districts/Block level in presence of more than 30 Departments/ Authorities.

• Carried more than 20 research and fact-finding studies without involving the foreign funded NGOs and UN agencies.

• Carried out more than 750 visits to various Districts/institutions/locations for fulfilling the functions of the Commission.

• Issued over 85 recommendations suggesting appropriate remedial measures to ensure the effective implementation of various Acts, policies, and schemes.

• Highlighted the issue of religious conversion of children with the help of foreign funding.

• Inspired by Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Pariksha Pe Charcha programme, Pariksha Parv has been organized since 2019 entailing different activities. In 2024, in the sixth edition of Pariksha Parv, more than 200 district-level sensitization programmes have been conducted for teachers on the issue of exam stress among children.