Governor Acharya Devvrat emphasized the need to regularly monitor the Ashrams and Homes being run by the State Child Welfare Council and said that there should be a meeting of the local management committees constituted for them every three months so that they could give their important suggestions for the welfare of the children.The Governor was speaking in the governing body meeting of HP State Child Welfare Council held at Raj Bhawan, here today. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was also present in the meeting.He said that there should also be a Psychiatrist at the local committee who could better understand the mind-set of children. Special facilities of counseling should be provided to them and such facilities to be made in every Ashram run by the Council, he said. He added that these committees would also maintained the register and put up their suggestions in it, which should be discussed at the meeting of the council so that concrete decisions could be taken for the welfare of children living in Ashrams.Taking view of the some unforeseen events in country, Acharya Devvrat said that CCTV cameras should be installed in every Ashrams and their smooth operation and supervision should be ensured regularly. He appealed to maintain sensitivity towards the children living in the Ashrams and said that qualified and trained persons should be appointed and monitored for their operation. He said that the society has to be more sensitive towards these children.
Frequent interaction with them would instill confidence and humanitarian thought of equality of opportunities to all will pervade in the society, he added.He appreciated the efforts of the state government and concerned officials for the proper maintenance of Ashrams, said that they often visit these Ashrams, and said that such system has created trust in the society. While expressing concern over the growing trend of addiction in the society, the Governor said that most incidents and crimes were only due to intoxication.Expressing concern over the absence of deputy commissioners in the meeting, the Governor said that their attendance at sensitive meetings was important.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the government was implementing various schemes for the welfare of orphans, differently-abled children and destitute children while some schemes were being executed through the HP Child Welfare Council. He said that the State Government was providing Grant-in-Aid to the Council for running Bal & Balika Ashram which has 308 children.He directed the officers to speed up the construction work of the building to be constructed at a cost of Rs 805.48 lakh for specially abled children of special school set up near Dhalli in Shimla. He asked the Council to complete the work in time bound manner. He said that construction of building for Balika Ashram at Garli in Kangra district has been completed which would be dedicated soon.The Chief Minister said that the Council was running 42 crèches in the state for the children of age group upto 6 for working women and the State Government was also providing Gant-in-Aid to the Council for their proper functioning. He directed to implement all the schemes of the Government being run for the welfare of orphans and destitute children in an effective manner and make great efforts for their upliftment.
Virbhadra Singh said that the person working as incharge of the institute like Bal Ashrams should be well trained having human touch so that he could perform his duties with more responsibility. He directed the authorities to put up concrete proposal for granting revised scale to employees of Grant-in Aid schemes.Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Dr.(Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that 29 Bal-Balika Home, one Observation Home-cum-Special Home and three Open Shelters were being run for providing food and other amenities to orphans, destitute children and specially abled children in the State. Out of which, 10 Homes were run by the State Government and other 19 Bal Ashram and three Open Shelters were being run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), he said and added that 9 Bal-Balika Ashrams and schools for special children and Child home were being run by HP Child welfare Council. He said that at present 1208 children were residing in these Homes.Principal Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri R.D. Dhiman detailed about the schemes of the department and the measures being adopted for welfare of special children and orphans.General Secretary HP State Child Welfare Council Smt. Raj Kumari Soni also gave valuable inputs in the meeting.Secretary Education Shri Abhishek Jain, Secretary to Governor Shri Rajesh Sharma, Director, Child & Women Development Smt. Mansi Sahai Thakur, Director, SC,OBC & Minority Affairs Shri Sandeep Bhatnagar, Deputy Commissioners of various districts, HODs, Senior Officers of the State Government, official and non official members of Child Welfare Council were also present on this occasion.