DDC Rajouri reviews implementation of child protection laws in district

Rajouri  : Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Rajesh Kumar Shavan today directed the Government officials to refrain from hiring a domestic servant below the age of 14 years.He was reviewing the functioning of the Child welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board and District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) here at a joint meeting.The meeting was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandan Kohli; Chairperson CWC, Iqbal Shawal; Project Officer ICDS, Kartar Singh; Chief Planning Officer, Khurshid Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer, Shamin in Nissa Bhatti; District Social Welfare Officer, Wakeel Ahmed Bhat; Child Development Project Officer; CEOs, Legal Cum Probation Officer, Shivangi Kant Sudan, Administrator OSC, Neetu Sharma; Women Welfare Officer, Anum Mirza, Labour inspector, Members CWC Rajouri.Besides, Riyaz Ahmed Choudhary, Principal Magistrate JJB Rajouri; Secretary DLSA Rajouri, Surinder Kumar Thapa and officers from the Prosecuting Wing also attended the meeting.At the outset, Legal Cum Probation Officer, Shivangi Kant Sudan and Member CWC Rajouri appraised the chair about the functioning of their respective units and achievements made so far.A detailed discussion was held with regard to ensuring effective implementation of the Act at district level by supporting the creation of adequate infrastructures, such as setting up Boards, Committees, Special Juvenile Police Units and homes; Identification of  families at risk and children in need of care and protection; Assessment of the number of children in difficult circumstances and creating district-specific databases to monitor trends and patterns of children in difficult circumstances; Implement family based non-institutional services including sponsorship, foster care, adoption and after care; setting up of District, Block and Village level Child Protection Committees for effective implementation of programmes.

Other points discussed in the meeting included the growing issues of beggary in the district; lack of interdepartmental coordination; the opening of Anganwadi Centers in Slum areas; Child Marriage and other children related welfare issues.The Deputy Commissioner stressed on the need for further strengthening of coordination among CWC, DCPU and Board, Police, Health and Education Departments to ensure the protection of interest of the children in need of care and protection and in conflict with the law. He advised the units to work in close coordination and make other departments aware of their role in meeting out the objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act.He stressed on the need to reach out the children in difficult circumstances and strive hard to provide all assistance to them. He said it was the responsibility of the CWC to bring those children back to the safety net and maintain continuous follow up of the cases.The Deputy Commissioner said there is a need to generate mass awareness among the students about the Juvenile Justice Act, CWCs through conferences, Seminars and by way of other means so that the targeted groups can be sensitized.The Deputy Commissioner also reiterated that there is a need to train and build the capacity of all personnel (Government and Non- government) implementing the Act to provide effective services to children.Calling for acting tough against domestic Child labour, the Deputy Commissioner said that no Government Employees shall keep the domestic Servants below the Age of 14 yrs.The Deputy Commissioner also directed the Education authorities conduct a survey in the Government schools in the town to find about the students working as domestic help in the homes of the Government officials.The Labour Department was directed to create a database about the number of labourers in the district along with the family history.The Deputy Commissioner said that the District, Block and Village wise CWC committees will be constituted and made functional at the earliest.