CM urges for working with missionary zeal for welfare of target groups
Vijyender Sharma
SHIMLA---Various Commissions, Boards and organizations should work with a sense of belongingness for achieving the tasks they are entrusted with and to ensure the welfare of the targeted beneficiaries which comes under their purview.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said this while addressing the State level workshop on Right to Education (RTE) Act organized by Commission for Protection of Child Rights in collaboration with Social Justice and Empowerment Department here today.
The present State Government taking into consideration the welfare of children formed the Commission for Protection of Child Rights with a mandate to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes and administrative mechanisms were in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution.
He said that the welfare of weaker sections and underprivileged needs to be taken care of, adding that commissions and associations so formed needs to work dedicatedly with the right approach to ensure welfare of the people.
He said that the Children in juvenile homes and special schools needs special care and attention so that they may not feel abandoned or ignored. The person assigned with such task should be emotionally involved and take their job as a challenge for welfare of these children. He said that the Government was also extending financial support to these commissions involved with the welfare of the children and women, besides the old age homes in the State and one have to get emotionally involved in this task.
The Chief Minister launched a survey calendar containing the first National Report on safe and secure environment of schools in India, with district and State wide data on different indicators of safe school atmosphere.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that State Commission was doing a commendable job for protection and welfare of child rights. He said that the drawbacks if any in RTE Act would be pondered upon, though Himachal Pradesh was fast treading upon providing basic and higher education to the children. He said that the State recently was awarded the Best Big State award in the field of education, which was itself a proof of the strides made in education sector.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Dr. Col. Dhani Ram Shandil while addressing the gathering said the section 12 (1) (c) of the Act under which 25 percent admission to children from weaker section and disadvantage groups at entry level was being taken into consideration. He said that adequate care was being taken of such children juvenile homes in the state. "I have been directed by the Chief Minister that regular monitoring of such children as well as of old age homes was to be done, and his instructions were being adhered to strictly", said the Minister. The government was in the process of lay down Early Childhood Care and Education Bill, he said, adding that at present the government was ensuring safe environment for the children in all the schools. Besides, School Management Committees have been formed to look after better management of schools and their upkeep.
Member, National Council for Protection of Child Rights, Sh.Priyank Kanungo also highlighted the role of the Commission and its extending support to State Commissions. He also gave presentation on Genesis of RTE, Act, 2009, which stresses on free and compulsory education to the children between 6-14 years of age. He appreciated the Mid day Meal scheme as being implemented by the State Government and specially for mobile schools for Gujjar communities.
He said that a policy needs to be formulated for not allowing the parents of children to contest any election on any platform, if they have deprived their children of basic education and if this was done, this would be an example for other states and a step for mass awareness. Though the enrolment of children between 6-14 age group was almost 100 percent in Himachal, but this initiative will set the trend rolling for other big states where children were deprived of right to education, he said.
Chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Ms. Kiran Dhanta detailed various activities being undertaken by the Commission. She said that the aim of the Commission was to protect the children who have no one to look after and sometimes dragged into illegal activities such as trafficking, maltreatment, torture, pornography etc. She said the Commission was formed to protect, defend and promote child rights for their bright future, besides looking after their health and hygiene.
She said that it was the duty of the concerned departments as well as the police to take care of such children who counter juvenile conflicts with law. She said that the police personnel needs to be child friendly.
She stressed for adequate timings to be given to children in their juvenile stage. She also highlighted the parental children relationship in the true perspective.
Director, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Member Secretary of the Commission, Ms. Mansi Sahai Thakur, Member, National Council for Protection of Child Rights, Ms. Pooja Kapoor were also present on the occasion amongst official and non official members.
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