Protect children’s rights, prevent child labour in Lahaul-Spiti: DC

Prioritise the protection of child rights, prevention of child labour and prompt redress of complaints related to child welfare, said Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhadana while presiding over the second quarterly meeting of the District Child Welfare and Protection Committee, operating under the Department of Women and Child Development, at her office at Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district on Monday.

She reviewed the progress of various child protection schemes and programmes being implemented in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed concern over the continued instances of child labour in the district and called for intensified efforts for their elimination. She emphasised the need for enhancing public awareness and instructed the officials concerned that the Child Helpline number be prominently displayed at all major tourist locations and in every panchayat.

Kiran highlighted the collective responsibility in eradicating child labour and urged greater collaboration among the education and health departments and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as well as the general public.

She instructed the officials of the District Child Protection Unit to design a questionnaire for collecting information on the physical and mental health of schoolchildren through the Education Department. She stressed the need for giving special attention to single daughters in families. The Health Department was directed to ensure regular health check-ups in schools.

The Deputy Commissioner encouraged officials, who had adopted schools, to interact regularly with students and deliver motivational talks. The BRO officials were urged to adopt schools and inspire children to consider careers in armed forces while offering guidance on other important aspects of personal development.

The Deputy Commissioner instructed the Child Development Project Officer to establish a model anganwari centre in the district. She reviewed the implementation of the ‘Sukh Ashray Yojana’ and said that 10 eligible children in the district were receiving higher education under the scheme — six of them were being supported for vocational training and one was being provided with assistance for marriage expenses.

District Child Protection Officer Dr Hira Nand, who conducted the meeting, presented a detailed report on the committee’s activities. He said that the Children’s Helpline was functioning efficiently in the district.

Assistant Commissioner Kalyani Tiwana, Block Development Officer Dr Vivek Guleria, DSP Rashmi Sharma, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Lal, District Programme Officer (ICDS) Sanjay Dogra, District Panchayat Officer Sachin, Child Development Project Officer Khushvinder Thakur and the representatives of the BRO, Education and Health Departments attended the meeting.