Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 27: Directorate of Mission Vatsalya, Social Welfare Department, Jammu and Kashmir, today rolled out a comprehensive manual for village and block-level child welfare and protection committees to strengthen the community-based child protection mechanism across the Union Territory.
The Manual, aligned with the objectives of Mission Vatsalya, a flagship initiative of the Government of India aimed at supporting children in difficult circumstances, was unveiled by Nazim Zai Khan during a Dissemination Ceremony held in Jammu. The event was organized in collaboration with National Development Foundation (NDF), Central University of Jammu and UNICEF India.
Mission Vatsalya team, comprising DCPOs, CWCs and Programme Manager Vatsalya, with technical support from partner institutions, has developed the Manual.
Among those present were Prof Dr Sindhu Kapoor, Dr Shifa Khan, Abdul Raheem, Dr Nancy Mengi, Rajiv Kumar Khajuria, Arti Sharma, Vidhi Dubey, Nischint Pachnanda, Mohidin Dar and NDF Board Members Nilly Pachnanda, Shranya Gupta and Gauri Sahi.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Kumar Khajuria outlined the framework of community-based child protection, while Dr Nancy Mengi sensitized participants on the provisions of the Manual. Abdul Raheem Mir and Prof Dr Sindhu Kapoor highlighted its importance, with Prof Kapoor assuring full support from SCERT J&K for its implementation.
Nazim Zai Khan commended partner institutions for their technical support and directed that the Manual be circulated to all District Magistrates and District Child Protection Officers. He stressed the need for District Child Protection Units to ensure capacity building, technical assistance and regular monitoring.
He emphasized that the Manual decentralizes child protection, enabling early identification, timely intervention, rehabilitation and reintegration of children. He also called for training of stakeholders across all 20 districts and revival of committees already constituted under Government orders to ensure effective implementation.
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