Executive and General Assembly Meeting of State Child Protection Committee concluded

Raipur. The meeting of the Executive and General Assembly of the State Child Protection Committee constituted under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, Child Welfare and Protection Committee was held today at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan under the chairmanship of Secretary Women and Child Development Department and Ex-Officio President State Child Protection Committee Mrs. Shammi Abidi. In the meeting, the Secretary Women and Child Development discussed in detail the important issues related to child protection and coordination with various departments. Joint Director, Mission Vatsalya presented the information about the various works currently being done in the field of child protection in the state, the institutional and non-institutional care services being provided under Mission Vatsalya operated for the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 as amended in 2021.

It was told in the meeting that 93 child care institutions are operating in the state, out of which 67 institutions are operated for children in need of care and protection and 26 institutions are operated for children in conflict with the law. There are 2046 children residing in these institutions, out of which 1318 children are studying in school and 29 children will give examination through open school. In the year 2023-24, 32 children of class 10th and 23 children of class 12th residing in child care institutions passed in first division. Aptitude test of 136 children was conducted for subject selection for the upcoming academic session. Children of Kondagaon and Mahasamund district performed in Judo and Archery games. As a result, admission has been provided in Sai Hostel and Sports Academy. Secretary Women and Child Development Department directed to make a joint action plan of Women and Child Development Department and related departments for effective implementation to provide good education for the all-round development of children residing in institutional care, to connect them with skill training, to take proper health care of children. Sports and Youth Welfare Department was instructed to include these children in their activities. In adoption under non-institutional care, 79 children were given in adoption in the year 2023-24 and 20 children this year. 812 children are being benefited under the sponsorship program. The Secretary gave instructions to publicize it widely and benefit maximum eligible beneficiaries. 14 children were benefited under foster care and 85 children in after care.

As per the provision of Juvenile Justice Child Care and Protection Act, 2015 as amended in 2021, Chhattisgarh Bal Kosh has been constituted, in which after approval of the proposals received from the districts, post-facto approval was given by the State Child Protection Committee. Information about benefiting 108 beneficiaries under the PM Care for Children Scheme operated for children orphaned due to the Covid disaster was given by the concerned officer.

The members of the committee were informed about the scheme run by the Central Government for the rehabilitation of POCSO victims. Information was given regarding the operation of Child Helpline 1098 run by the State Government from September 1, 2023, integration with Women Helpline 181 and ERSS 112. Against 1623 cases received in the Child Helpline, 1571 cases were resolved. The Secretary directed for wide publicity of helpline numbers 1098, 181, 112 and district-wise analysis of crimes committed against children and by children and to prepare an action plan and effective implementation.

It was told in the meeting that instructions were given for qualitative improvement of the work and efforts being done in the best interest of child protection and children in the state. The members of the committee were given information regarding Child Marriage Free Chhattisgarh Campaign. 161 child marriages in the year 2023-24 and 146 in the year 2024-25 have been prevented through inter-departmental coordination. The innovations being done by the state government, Ullas, Ujiyar, Umang, Umeed and Bal Uday Yojana were discussed in detail. Along with this, information about various activities taking place in child care institutions like Swachhata Pakhwada, Yoga Day, Mental Health Day, Veer Bal Diwas was shared.

In the year 2023-24, as per the guidelines of Mission Vatsalya, the financial proposal sent to the Government of India was given post facto approval by the committee. The committee gave post facto approval to the training action plan for 2024-25, publicity activity action plan, audit work of the year 2022-23. The members of the committee were informed about preparing the draft of the child protection policy of Chhattisgarh state. The Secretary directed to prepare a coordinated action plan for publicity and result-oriented action on points related to the department in the best interest of children.

Director Women and Child Development Mrs. Tulika Prajapati, Joint Secretary, Women and Child Development Department Dr. Renuka Shrivastava and representatives of other allied departments – Home Department, Health and Family Welfare Department, Social Welfare Department, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Finance Department, Higher Education Department, Technical Education Department, State Legal Services Authority, Railways and NIC etc. participated in the meeting.