Excelsior Correspondent
Rajouri, Mar 4: “No Government employee can hire a domestic servant below the age of 14 years”. This was said Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Rajesh Kumar Shavan while reviewing the functioning of the Child Welfare Committee, Juvenile Justice Board and District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) in a joint meeting held today..
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 particular units and achievements made so far.
A detailed discussion was held to ensure effective implementation of the Act at district or city levels by supporting the creation of adequate infrastructures, such as setting up Boards, Committees, Special Juvenile Police Units and homes in the district; 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 are; setting up of District, Block and Village level Child Protection Committees for effective implementation of programmes.
Besides, other points discussed in the meeting include 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.
While speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner stressed the need for more coordination between CWC, DCPU and Board, Police, Health and Education Departments to ensure the best interest of the children in need of care and protection and also 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.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri 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.
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 to survey the schools especially in the Government schools falling in the town about the students working 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.
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