Sensitisation camp on Mission Vatsalya held

CHANGLANG, 8 Sep: A sensitisation camp on child protection services, also known as ‘Mission Vatsalya’, was conducted at the government higher secondary school here jointly by the ICDS DD office and the police and the education departments on Thursday.

Around 215 participants, including 200 students of Class 12 and teachers, participated in the camp, during which they were made aware of the Juvenile Justice Act and the functioning of the district child protection unit (DCPU).

The participants were also apprised of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2008.

DCPO C Tangjang explained how each department can “assist children who are found in distressed condition,” and listed out the “number and types of cases received by the CWC in the last five years.”

She urged the school authorities to “make enquiries when any student is found missing classes for long period of time, and facilitate readmission of children from CCIs and school dropouts in their schools.”

She also suggested appointing a “nodal teacher” to attend to child-related cases in the school.

Changlang PS OC C Yanchang spoke about the SJPU and the circumstances under which some children were rescued and assisted in coordination with the DCPU.

He also cautioned against substance abuse, “as they are the root cause of all downfall.”

Principal (i/c) Dr MN Taloh asked the students to “be aware about matters pertaining to their safety and security,” and stated that “boys could also be equally vulnerable to various types of abuse faced by girls.”

The DCPO informed that similar camps will be held at the government schools in Khimiyang and Manmao circles in September. (DIPRO)