Social Welfare Department Organize Orientation workshop on Foster-Care

By 121 News

Chandigarh 20^th August:- To raise awareness on Foster-care services in India and in Chandigarh and training of all stakeholders on the same State Adoption Resource Agency under Union Territory Child Protection Society, Department of social welfare, Chandigarh administration today organized a "Orientation workshop on Foster-care in collaboration with Foster-care India. The workshop was inaugurated by Secretary Social welfare, Ms Bhawna Garg, IAS.  Speaking on the occasion she congratulated the innovative collaboration of government and non-governmental sectors for this purpose and emphasized that for any service to be successful, convergence between all stakeholders is truly essential. She also urged for launching of awareness program for the same. Director Social welfare, Ms Nishu Singhal also participated in the program.

Every child has the right to family care. This provision is found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, UN Guidelines for Alternative Care 2009, the Indian Constitution and various other rulings on child rights. The focus in India and around the world has now moved away from institutionalizing children requiring care and protection services and providing care for children through non institutional methods like Adoption, Foster Care, Aftercare etc. In order to support systems of alternative care for children as opposed to institutional care, a fully functional foster care program needs to be developed by state governments, which keep a central focus on the best interests of the child and the right to of a child to family care.

The workshop was attended by various stake holders under the act like functionaries of UT child protection agencies, like Chandigarh Women and Child Helpline, Child care institutions and other stakeholders in Chandigarh. All the sessions were conducted by Devashish Mishra, Program Manager, Foster care India.