Awareness Program on Child Protection for Anganwadi Workers

By 121 News

Chandigarh 28^th January:- 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 Vijay Dev Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh Administration and  addressed by Bhawna Garg, 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 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 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 Prabhjot Kaur, State coordinator, and State resource centre for women. The program also included a session by 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 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, Nishu Singhal, Director social welfare, Kamlesh-Ex Mayor, Neena Singh, Trustee Bharat Prakash Foundation and 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, 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 15^TH August.