Raipur: Women and child development minister Anila Bhediya launched a state level workshop on the role and coordination of stakeholders for the effective implementation of nutrition care programme in Raipur today. The workshop discussed the rehabilitation of children in need of care, protection and their inclusion in the mainstream of society. On this occasion the minister also honored two foster families providing care to their foster children.
The workshop was organized by the Department of Women and Child Development in collaboration with UNICEF.
Addressing the workshop, Bhediya said that under the able leadership of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, the department has taken many welfare measures for women and children. The priority of the state government is the holistic development of all the children, including those children who have to stay in institutions due to various reasons. Institutions are not the home of children, in fact the complete development of a person can take place only with the child’s inclusion in a family and society. Keeping this in mind, non-institutional care has been included in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.She said that foster care is an important program of child care outside the institution. Under Mission Vatsalya, arrangements are being made for alternate temporary care and protection in non-relative families to provide a family environment to children in need of care and protection. Due to this, where enthusiasm is communicated in the foster family, the child gets full opportunity for proper development. To connect these children with the mainstream of the society, it is necessary for every citizen to be sensitive and cooperative. She has appealed that all sections of the society, voluntary organizations, should unite with the government to provide all possible opportunities to provide a proper family environment to promote development in children, so that children become worthy citizens and an empowered India can be created.
Chairperson of Chhattisgarh State Commission for Women Dr. Kiranmayi Nayak explained the usefulness of natural nutritional diet for children. She advised people to adopt natural nutritious food instead of packaged food.Director Divya Mishra informed that work is being done on Ullas, Umeed and Ujiyar programs for the all-round development of children in Chhattisgarh. Today, Umang is being added to this series of welfare programs in the form of the fourth U. There are 45 Children Homes and 13 Specialized Adoption Agencies operating in the State. There are 119 children residing in the Specialized Adoption Agency. In the year 2021-22, 112 children were rehabilitated through adoption. At present 54 children are identified for nutritional care programs. So far, 4 children in the state have become part of families under nutritional care. In the last financial year, 165 children have benefited under sponsorship.
UNICEF State Head Job Zachariah informed that 75 lakh children live in institutions in the world, about 2 lakh children live in the streets. The United Nations Federation has made provision for placing children in a home or alternative family. On this basis, a family based child care program has been prepared. Work is being done in 10 districts of Chhattisgarh with special focus on this. The state of Chhattisgarh deserves congratulations that it is ahead of many other states of the country in this regard. He said that under Mission Vatsalya, an amount of up to Rs.4000 per month is also provided for maintenance.
