In order to make Rishikesh a child-friendly space, the Dehradun district administration will run an awareness campaign in the city under Child Protection Scheme.
In a meeting with the representatives of various departments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on Friday, the chief development officer (CDO), Nitika Khandelwal discussed the plans to eradicate child beggary, substance abuse and juvenile crimes in Rishikesh. She directed the representatives of departments and NGOs to prepare data by conducting field inspection of various areas in the city and rescue the needy children from such areas. She also instructed the officials concerned to plan the rehabilitation of such children involved in juvenile crimes, child beggary and substance abuse. She said that all the rescued children must be given the required protection under the scheme besides proper education and professional skill training. Further, Khandelwal also ordered that counselling be provided to the parents of the rescued children too. She stressed that the police must also provide protection to those children who might be associated with some criminal groups while conducting a proper investigation in the matter.
Moreover, the CDO also directed officials concerned to select shelter homes so that rescued children can stay in the same city. She instructed the health department to conduct regular health check-ups of the rescued children. Further, she instructed the district probation officer and social welfare department to make all the arrangements for the rescued disabled children.
The CDO directed the officials and the representatives of the NGOs present in the meeting to work in coordination with each other to make a safe child space in Rishikesh. The prominent departments and agencies that were represented in the meeting were the education department, district child welfare committee, juvenile justice board and Bachpan Bachao Andolan foundation.
Saturday, 06 March 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
