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NGOs' programme for child protection

Staff Reporter

Lack of seriousness in implementing schemes at the ground level

NEW DELHI: Stating that the Planning Commission and Union Ministries concerned must bring issues concerning protecting children from abuse, exploitation and neglect into focus, non-government organisations working in the area launched their "Protecting Children in India: A Proposal for the 11th Five Year Plan'' report here over the weekend.

The proposal and recommendations are based on the outcome of consultations with 287 child protection non-government organisations and 146 children held between June and July this year.

The programme jointly convened by non-government organisations, Butterflies and Prayas, aims at highlighting the fact that despite the Constitution providing for most important rights, a national policy and several laws and schemes for child protection, there has been a lack of seriousness with regard to implementing these at the ground level.

Speaking at the launch chief organiser, Gerry Pinto, said: "This is an opportunity to translate our rhetoric of our commitment to children into action as we are finalising the programme for child protection in the 11th Five Year Plan. We must allocate sufficient funds to ensure effective implementation of the National Plan of Action for Children announced in 2005, the Children's Commission Bill enacted in 2006 and the Integrated Programme for Child Protection currently being developed. The State in fact has not taken its obligations to implementing the Constitutional provisions seriously enough with regard to child survival and protection.''

The report strongly suggests progressive professionalisation of services in the area of child protection, bringing in an active role for professionals in the area of social work, child development, psychology and counselling.

Also a majority of the non-government organisations have also suggested that the Government should enact a national policy on children and that the charter for children was not sufficient.

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