Panchayats to monitor child safety scheme

Rajouri, February 3

To create awareness among the masses about the child rights and to coordinate between the community and various child protection structures, panchayat and block level committees will soon be formed in Rajouri district.

The centrally sponsored Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is aimed at building a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances as well as for other vulnerable children through government-civil society partnership. But in the absence of proper awareness about these schemes due to the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the officials concerned, the child welfare related schemes mostly remain on paper or are implemented in urban areas only.

The panchayat level child protection committee (PLCPC) will be headed by the sarpanch and will include two children (girl & boy), member from district child protection unit (DCPU, anganwari workers, two ASHA workers, school teacher and prominent villagers).

The lock level child protection committee will be headed by the block development officer and block medical officer will be member secretary, while members include child development project officer, zonal education officer, representatives from the DCPU, health and education departments and two members from civil society having no political affiliation. — OC