‘Conflict profiteers’ handed over stones and guns to children: Lt Guv
Says child protection top priority for the govt
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Thursday said that “conflict profiteers” used to brainwash children and handover guns and stones in their hands but the UT administration is going tough against these profiteers and one will be spared.
Addressing two-day workshop on Strengthening of Child Protection System/Mechanisms for Representatives of PRIs/ULBs/Police/SIRD and other stakeholders of J&K, at Convention Centre, Srinagar, the LG said that some “conflict profiteers” used to brainwash J&K children and handover stones and guns in their hands. “We have decided to go tough against all these conflict profiteers and none of them will be spared,” the LG said.
He said that the administration is committed to hand over laptops to J&K’s children and shape their future. He said that post August 2019, all laws that were not applicable to J&K with regard to child protection were made applicable with the result Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) was re-framed, Rehabilitation policy for children was also made.
“Focus has to be on the institutional care where a child should get home like feeling,” the LG said, adding that the administration will ensure that no child is seen begging or working on streets of J&K.
The LG said that children are getting addicted to drugs and the UT administration has announced war against drugs and to make J&K drug free. “But administration alone can’t do it. We need support of youth clubs, elders, civil society and all other stakeholders,” he said.
In his address, the Lt Governor expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Women and Child Development and lauded the Social Welfare Department for its innovative initiative which aims to organise training programme for 15,000 persons in 2023-24.
He said the training programme is the testimony to the commitment of the UT Administration to secure a blissful childhood and to ensure a supportive ecosystem for children which enables them to realize their true potential.
Addressing the inaugural session, the Lt Governor highlighted the need to provide homes to the children living in institutional care and in street situation.
“I believe childhood blossoms in a vibrant environment of home, hence institutional care should be the last option,” the Lt Governor said.
He said the government has taken several rehabilitation and child care initiatives, and adoption through joint effort of Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) and State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA) has started that will promote family-based non-institutional care of children.
The Lt Governor also called upon public representatives, NGOs, community elders, religious leaders and youth clubs to join the fight against the drug menace.
Adolescent drug abuse is one of the major areas of concern. We have adopted zero tolerance policy against drugs and it is our collective responsibility to raise awareness and strengthen action to realize the vision of drug-free J&K, he said.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor asked the officials of the central government to consider the establishment of Vatsalya Sadan one each in Jammu and Srinagar.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary J&K; Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Indra Mallo, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare Department and senior officers from Central Government and UT Administration were present.
The inaugural session was attended by PRIs and ULB members, Police officials; Resource persons, representatives of Juvenile Justice Board, Judiciary, NGOs and other stakeholders.
KV News
