The Punjab State Child Protection Society today conducted a day long workshop to generate awareness about crimes against children plus sensitizing the departments connected with children regarding promulgation of steps aimed at ensuring child protection.The workshop conducted in unison with the 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' foundation of Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi was held at Health and Family Welfare State Institute's auditorium here at Phase-6. The workshop saw District Level Officers from Women and Child Development, Education, Labour, Legal Authority and Police Departments in attendance.Inaugurating the workshop, the Special Chief Secretary, Social Security & Women and Child Development Department, Mr. K.B.S. Sidhu said that the significant step in the direction of generating awareness with regard to child protection was undertaken when Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh and Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi met. He further said that this workshop emanates from the efforts of Punjab Government in consequence to that meeting and it is for the first time that the district level officers of all the departments having a connect with the children have met under one roof. He exhorted all the officers to make sure that the congenial atmosphere towards children is created which calls for making masses aware regarding the aspect of child protection.
Sharing his personal experiences as well as those from his various administrative tenures, Mr. Sidhu said that there is no dearth of the legal provisions to ensure child protection but the only thing which is needed is the effective implementation of these. He also advocated adopting constructive approach towards children and gave a clarion call for taking child welfare steps in collaboration with the civil society and NGOs. He also said that today's workshop is an excellent step in this direction which would have far reaching results.Earlier, the Director, Social Security, Women and Child Development Mrs. Kavita Singh batted for the adoption of sensitive approach for reducing the crimes against children. Adding more, she said that children being easily prone to violence and exploitation by the anti-social elements, made this workshop the need of the hour in which all the energies should be channelized towards preparation of an action plan by all the departments to bring down the percentage of crimes against children.Mrs. Kavita Singh further elaborated that as per the directions of the Social Security, Women & Child Development Minister Mrs. Aruna Chaudhary the department is undertaking consistent steps aimed at the welfare of children and making a difference in their lives. The Director also shared some cases received in her department regarding children.
On the occasion, the Director of 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' Dr. Om Prakash lauding the initiative of the Punjab Government said that the meeting between the Chief Minister, Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh and Kailash Satyarthi has borne fruits. Comparing Punjab with the other states, he said that Punjab has initiated concrete measures aimed at the welfare of children. He also appreciated the Child Reform Centres being run in Punjab for child inmates.On the occasion, IG (Crime) Mr. Jaskiran Singh and Dr. Mukesh from the Health Department were also present. The workshop saw 2 technical sessions after inaugural sessions in which senior officers from various departments including Chairman, Punjab State Commission for Protection & Child Rights Mr. Sukesh Kalia, Director-Training, 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan Mrs. Jyoti Mathur, Director School Education Mr. Prashant Kumar, AIG Mr. Inderbir Singh, Deputy Director, Health Department, Dr. Mukesh shared their views as experts. The workshop also saw participation by all the District Programme Officers, Civil Surgeons, District Education Officers, District Child Protection Officers, Assistant Labour Commissioners and DSPs (Investigation). The Additional Director of the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Mrs. Lily Chaudhari thanked all.