Jammu: Chairperson Selection cum Oversight Committee, Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi on Tuesday advocated for strengthening child protection mechanism at Village level. Justice Masoodi was speaking at a training programme for Village Level Child Protection Committees of district Jammu organized by National Development Foundation in collaboration with Selection cum Oversight Committee and Directorate of ICPS J&K with the funding support from European Union. Justice Masoodi complemented the efforts of NDF and European Union in taking lead in piloting village level Child Protection Committees in three districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
He called upon the CPC members to work as child rights advocates in their respective villages so that child rights can become reality in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked the CPCs to keep a close eye on the Government schemes meant for the protection and welfare of the children and asked particularly the Sarpanch and Panch members of the Child Protection Committees to link children with such schemes. He also cautioned the CPCs about the exploitation of the children through the digital mediums and pitched for the use of internet by children under parent’s surveillance.
Chief Operating Officer NDF, Neha Gandotra and Programme Manager NDF Parvinder Singh were the resource persons.
Among others present were Mr. G.A. Sofi State Mission Director ICPS, Mr. Rajiv Khajuria Founder Emeritus NDF/ Member Selection Cum Oversight Committee, Prof. Dr. Arti Bakhshi Member Selection cum Oversight Committee, Arti Sharma Chief Functionary NDF.
Members of Child Protection Committees from ten villages of Jammu district participated in the workshop.
State Mission Director ICPS in his address asked the CPC members to report child right violations to BCPC and Child line (1098). He also spoke in detail about the role of Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards and the provisions under Integrated Child Protection Scheme.
Rajiv Khajuria, in his address, assured that NDF will make all efforts to facilitate establishment of CP mechanisms at village, block and district level. He called upon the Child Protection Committees to set positive examples by enhancing reporting and addressing the matter reported in a reasonable time as children cannot wait for justice. He said everyone is duty bound to respond to their needs of care and protection.
