Child panel supports 1,200 kids, families

Chandigarh, July 11

The Child Welfare Committee, Chandigarh, continues to help children facing improper food intake due to the loss of livelihood during the pandemic.

The volunteers have been providing 1,200 children and their families with dry ration every month.

The committee has been gathering intelligence on child abuse via chain-calling system ‘phone tree’ wherein each volunteer contributes. “Financial shock and instability is one of the major causes of child labour, child marriage and child trafficking. Since Chandigarh has 20 per cent internal migrant population, our programme spots children facing poor food intake,” said Sangita Vardhan, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee.

She added: “The scale of the ‘phone tree’ has grown to 1,200 children and families per month. Socially relevant data is being analysed to further support the families facing loss of livelihoods. It’s also identifying girls in the ages of 13 to 17 years who are at the risk of child marriage. The intention is to keep them and their parents motivated.”

She has devised, scripted and enacted a special radio programme, ‘Anmol’, for contributing to a better world for children. Also age-appropriate Covid-19 kits are distributed among the needy. — TNS