Camp held for children from slums to link them with welfare schemes

Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan on Wednesday praised the district administration for organising a special rehabilitation camp for children living in slum areas. He said the initiative would help connect underprivileged children with the mainstream of society and enable them to access various government welfare schemes.

Kalyan was speaking to reporters after inspecting the special camp organised by the Women and Child Development Department and the District Child Protection Unit at the Community Centre in Sector 33. Earlier, he visited counters set up by different departments, spoke with officials on duty and interacted with children attending the camp.

He said the primary objective of the initiative was to bring children from the poorest and most neglected sections of society into the mainstream and help prepare essential documents so they could benefit from government schemes. He directed officials to ensure school admissions for eligible children so they could receive proper education and secure a better future.

Kalyan said many children had never attended school and had remained deprived of welfare benefits because their families lacked essential documents such as Aadhaar cards. He added that health screenings conducted during the camp revealed several deficiencies among children, while some were also found to be addicted to intoxicating substances. He described the district administration’s coordinated effort involving multiple departments as a commendable step towards improving the lives of children living in difficult conditions.

Deputy Commissioner Anand Kumar Sharma said similar camps had earlier been organised in different parts of the city. “Our main purpose is to ensure health check-ups and education for such children,” he said.

Officials said 181 children were registered during the camp. Under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, doctors conducted health examinations including blood pressure, weight, height, head and arm measurements, and screening for congenital disorders such as heart defects. Children were also vaccinated against serious diseases.

Two children suffering from skin and dental problems were referred to the Civil Hospital, while 130 children were provided iron supplements and deworming medicines. Aadhaar cards were prepared on the spot for 38 children. Officials identified 43 children aged up to six years as eligible for Anganwadi centres, while 71 children aged between six and 15 years were found eligible for school admission. Concerned departments were instructed to ensure their enrolment at the earliest opportunity.

Adolescent girls aged 14 to 15 years were also informed about the HPV vaccine, while HIV counselling was provided to 124 children.