Awareness Program on Child Protection for Anganwadi workers
Chandigarh, 28 January, 2016:- The State
Child Protection Society under Union Territory Child Protection Society (UTCPS)
under the aegis of Department of Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration
organized a one day Awareness Program on Child Protection for Anganwadi workers
held at Tagore theatre.
The workshop
was presided over by Sh. Vijay Dev, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh
Administration and addressed by Smt.
Bhawna Garg, IAS Chairperson UTCPS-cum-Secretary Social welfare also addressed
on the issues of child development and child protection. The other officers
present on the occasion were Smt. Nishu Singhal, HCS, Director social welfare
along with representative of NGOs and other senior officers of Department of
Social Welfare.
The Chairperson
UTCPS-cum-Secretary Social welfare emphasized on two approaches of
child development and child protection which are implemented by the MWCD
through its flagship programs i.e. The ICDS (Integrated Child
Development scheme) and ICPS (Integrated Child Protection Scheme) respectively.
The program was attended by over 500
Anganwaris workers, Officers of ICDS, Chandigarh and District Child Protection
Unit.
The program
began with a session on Child Helpline (181) by Mr. Vikramjeet Godwani, State Coordinator,
Women and Child Helpline which focused on functioning of child helpline, cases of children such as child abuse,
child labour, child beggar, destitute children and children who can be covered
under the social security schemes . The session also emphasized timely
reporting of cases to appropriate agencies. This was followed by a session on
Disability schemes of Social Welfare Department by Smt. Prabhjot Kaur, State
coordinator, State resource centre for women. The program also included a
session by Smt. Komila Parthi, Professor
DAV College focusing on hygiene issues at Anganwadi centres, Identifying
children with behavioural changes and how to assess and refer such cases to
appropriate agencies.
Another session
was held to provide an overview on Child rights & identifying
children with sexual abuse and reporting abuse which was taken up by Mr. Neil
Roberts, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Chandigarh the session
emphasized mandatory reporting of such cases to appropriate agencies as
mandated under POCSO ACT 2012 and JJ Act 2015.
This was
followed by an interactive Open House Discussion with panelists
including Smt. Bhawna Garg, Secretary Social Welfare, Smt. Nishu Singhal, Director social welfare, Ms.
Kamlesh-Ex Mayor, Ms. Neena Singh, Trustee Bharat Prakash Foundation and Mr.
Neil Roberts Chairperson CWC . A number of issues were raised in this session
and the workers expressed their grievances to the panel present. Through the open house discussion it was also
emphasized that the focus has to be children and their development which should
not be compromised and the Department of social welfare will add on the
resources as required.
This was
followed by a theatre performance by city based NGO called “SAMAJ SARAKSHAN
SAMITI”. The play focused on sensitizing the audience on prevention of food
wastage and aimed to sensitize the Anganwadi workers to spread the message
forward.
The audience
was then addressed by Secretary Social Welfare, Smt. Bhawna Garg
who spoke about the importance of organizing such interactive programs between
all that relevant issues are brought to the front and addressed in time added
that Both ICPS and ICDS are crucial schemes of MWCD and together covers most of
the child rights issues.
Speaking on
the occasion the Worthy Adviser to the Administrator congratulated the
Department of Social Welfare for organizing the multi stakeholder program and
focusing on the orientation and capacity building of Anganwari workers who are
essentially the backbone of country’s ICDS Program. He further added that the
Chandigarh administration as proposed by Director social welfare will award the
best performing Anganwaris workers ON 15th August.
Comments
Post a Comment