Drives to rescue, rehabilitate street children launched in Shopian

Srinagar, Feb 5: On the directions of District Magistrate Shopian Faz Lul Haseeb, many drives were conducted in district Shopian for rescue and rehabilitation of children in street situation (CISS) in view of celebration of Republic Day and on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti between January 12 to January 31.

To protect and rehabilitate the children living on the streets, India’s top child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Children’s Rights (NCPCR),has released a revised standard operating procedure.

The street children have been divided into three broad categories: those who are living on the streets all alone and with no support, those who spend most of their time on the streets but go home to a slum at night and those whose entire families live on the streets.

As per the guidelines, the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) will be the first point of contact for such cases. The DCPUs are required to identify and provide counselling to the children and their families living on the streets.

In compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) a rescue and rehabilitation drive of Children in Street situation (CISS) was conducted in district Shopian in hotspot areas of the district. Ibrar Hussain Mirza was deputed as the Nodal officer for this campaign who is also the District Child Protection Officer of the district.

The Child Welfare Committee Shopian , all officials of District Child Protection Unit Shopian, officials of Labour department, Station House Officer Shopian, Special Juvenile Police Officer of district Shopian ,an NGO namely Human Welfare Voluntary Organisation and representatives from the special cell for women and children Shopian took part in the campaign.

During the campaign two children below the age of 18 were rescued and after proper counselling were handed over to their parents against a proper undertaking. All the children who were rescued during the campaign were non-locals from the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Apt to mention here that the team is very grateful to Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian, Tanshuree who always providse her support in these types of drives. During the rescue campaign people were made aware about various policies of the government for the wellbeing of these children and were urged to report or inform the Child Welfare Committee Shopian,DCPO Shopian or Labour department in case they found any child of this category. The people appreciated and welcomed the move.